FUEL pumps at forecourts across Fife began to run dry yesterday as the petrol strike began to bite.

Sporadic shortages were reported at stations throughout central Fife as the strike by tanker drivers contracted to oil firm Shell entered its third day.

Members of the public have been warned not to panic-buy but, although queues over the weekend were not as bad as the ones caused by the Grangemouth refinery dispute at the end of April, the brisk trade has slowly seen pumps begin to dry up in various areas.

Kirkcaldy’s Shell garage was busy throughout yester- day but still had supplies in the afternoon—although a spokesman did say stocks were “running low.”

Shell in Glenrothes had no unleaded yesterday and was likely to run out of diesel by the end of the day, while the Shell Bawbee garage in Leven was also expected to run out of unleaded by close of play yesterday.

A spokesman there said they had no idea when deliveries would be made.

Supermarket petrol forecourts were also heavily affected, with the likes of Sainsbury’s garage in Leven among those running out and awaiting new deliveries.

However, there was no panic buying at Shell in Dunfermline over the weekend.

Staff in the Halbeath Road filling station reported that trade had been steady and there was still plenty of fuel left.