GWENT garages started to run dry last night as petrol panic-buying grew.

Petrol stations were turning customers away or rationing them amid the chaos.

The shortage comes as petrol chiefs warn customers not to panic-buy as protests began outside refineries this morning.

The South Wales Hauliers Association was to bring chaos to Gwent roads on Friday with a rolling blockade on the M4.

Large queues were seen around garage forecourts from 6am yesterday morning.

And the surge of panic-buying motorists has forced some garages to close.

The Crown Corner service station in Blackwood was closed yesterday due to a shortage of fuel.

Risca Services were out of diesel and unleaded most of yesterday, but were due for a delivery this morning.

The Shell UK Ltd garage in Chepstow Road, Newport, ran out of unleaded petrol at around 6pm and the David Taylor garage in Tredegar ran dry of fuel last night.

Sree Reala, cashier of the Texaco garage in Cardiff Road, Newport, said: "It's very quiet here now because we have had to close all the pumps. There should be a delivery today but they are late already."

Petrol also ran dry at Abergavenny Service Station, Hereford Road, at 8.30pm yesterday.

Customers wanting fuel were being turned away from the 24-hour garage.

A spokesman said: "I had to tell customers who wanted fuel to go to another station in Abergavenny. We are supposed to be a 24-hour garage, but people get a siege mentality and panic-buy. What can you do?"

The Esso garage in Rockhill Road, Pontypool, received a delivery yesterday, but expects to run out of unleaded and diesel today. Supervisor Joanne Ayres said: "The queues have been horrendous because of panic-buying.

"Our deliveries normally last a few days but we don't know when our next one is coming."

Gwent Police, South Wales Police and Dyfed Powys Police issued a joint statement ahead of Friday's planned fuel protest.

Members of all three forces met protest leaders to ensure public safety.

The statement said: "The three forces will continue to liaise with the organisers to minimise the impact any protest would have on South Wales.

"We will also continue to monitor the situation. Any shortages are purely being caused by panic-buying."