UK puts army on standby as fuel pumps run dry

The UK is putting army drivers on standby to help out as a fuel supply crisis drags on.

Up to 90% of filling stations have run dry in regions up and down the country.

That after a shortage of truck drivers hit supplies, sparking panic buying.

Long lines have formed at the few outlets which still have petrol, with fights between car drivers breaking out in some places.

Now the British Medical Association is calling for health workers to get priority access to fuel to ensure that hospitals aren't left without doctors and nurses.

The crisis is also becoming a big concern for anyone who depends on vehicles to work.

Paul Kirby is a London taxi driver:

"It's massive. Friends of mine have not been able to come to work this morning because they're so low they can't risk coming out and running out. It's really, really worrying."

Ministers, oil companies and petrol stations all say there is no shortage of fuel.

It's the combination of a lack of truckers and panic buying that has drained the system.

Now army drivers could help fill some of the gap.

But not very much.

Hauliers estimate the country is short of around 100,000 truckers.

Many left as a result of Brexit, while lockdowns hampered training for new drivers.

However, with so many cars now filled up, the Petrol Retailers Association predicts that the supply crunch should ease in the coming days.