The petrol picture in Scotland

The proposed shutdown of the Grangemouth oil refinery is already affecting petrol buying around Scotland.

Queues at the pumps have been reported in some areas of the country, while others are still waiting for the effects to bite.

Below is a round up of the situation in your area.

North east motorists taking to the roads needing to fill their tanks have faced some problems.

The fuel supply situation varies across Scotland

A number of filling stations ran out of some types of unleaded or super unleaded petrol. Forecourts appear to have stocks of diesel.

Garages which are able to replenish their stocks may be forced to introduce rationing.

One forecourt in Huntly restricted sales to �25 per customer.

Retailers say they are constantly monitoring the situation with their suppliers.

At Aberdeen's Bridge of Dee Asda store on Friday, some unleaded pumps were having to be closed due to demand outstripping supply.

A store spokesman told the BBC Scotland news website that they were getting supplies, but sales were "considerably higher" due to concerns of motorists.

Asda still had unleaded supplies at the remaining pumps and diesel was described as "fine".

Senior officials from the emergency services and the local authorities have been holding regular meetings to try and minimise any potential disruption caused by fuel shortages.

The Grampian Strategic Co-ordinating Group (SCG) urged motorists not to panic buy to keep impact on daily life to a minimum.

Meanwhile, an Aberdeen-based industry expert has warned any long-term closure could have a serious impact on North sea oil production.

Prof Alex Kemp, who specialises in petroleum economics at the University of Aberdeen, told BBC Scotland work might have to stop if the strike was maintained.

He said it could also lead to problems for the associated gas production in the offshore fields.

In Dumfries and Galloway the potential impact of the industrial dispute was the subject of talks on Friday.

An emergency planning group, which involves key public agencies including the police and council, was meeting to consider the latest developments.

In the Borders garages across the region have reported increased sales all week.

In Galashiels they ran out of diesel on Thursday and the only garage with supplies put a �10 limit on each customer.

Another tanker is expected on Saturday so there is thought to be no danger of the pumps running dry.

Filling stations in other towns report they have plenty of fuel too - but that has not stopped customers queuing to fill their tanks.

There have been reports of panic buying of fuel across the Highlands - mainly in Inverness, Skye and Lochaber, with nearly every retailer reporting that they have no supplies of diesel ahead of the strike action.

Forecourt operators said it was not clear how much they would be getting in their next deliveries.

In outlying areas some are rationing fuel to �10 or �20 per customer. In one case a garage owner has said he would only sell to regulars. Unleaded petrol is generally still available but in some places suppliers are down to just a few thousand litres.

It was a better picture in Caithness, where there has been little or no evidence of panic buying although again some retailers were reporting that their diesel tanks were empty.

Meanwhile, the fuel depot at Inverness Harbour should have fuel over the weekend despite the strike, according to the harbour authority.

Inverness Harbour took delivery of two shiploads of fuel on Thursday and another was expected on Saturday. It was also expected that ship deliveries from Grangemouth would resume shortly after midnight on Sunday.

Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne said it had enough fuel to continue normal services and larger vessels ran on a different grade of fuel which was not supplied from Grangemouth, and would be largely unaffected by the shortages directly.

It also warned travellers against carrying onboard spare cans of petrol or diesel and it reserved the right to inspect vehicles. There are strict rules on the carrying of flammable liquids on ferries.

A CalMac spokesman said it would be guaranteed that no island would be left without a service and it would work with the Scottish Government on lifeline services to ensure communities were not left without essential supplies.

In the Forth Valley, the picture appeared to be mixed.

In Stirling and Clackmannanshire the forecourts were reported to be busy and demand is up but there did not appear to be evidence of fuel-rationing.

On Friday morning the Stirling Services had run out of diesel.

Stirling services had run out of diesel on Friday morning

In Dundee, the Shell in the East Marketgait now has fuel again after being empty since Tuesday night.

Supervisor Liz Greig said that a tanker pulled up at about midnight on Thursday. However, she warned it was not a large delivery so they are again limiting customers to �15 of fuel each visit.

The garage in the West Marketgait has rationed fuel to �20 per visit and they have run out of unleaded, but another delivery is expected on Friday night. The manager of the garage said customers were still panic buying. He is expecting it to be very busy over the weekend.

Donald Munro from the Shell South Esk in Montrose agreed panic buying was continuing, and called the situation absolute bedlam. He said that as soon as staff arrived at the garage in the morning the drivers were like bees to the honey pot.

They had received a delivery of fuel on Friday morning which he expects to last about a-day-and-a-half, usually it would last about three to four days. He cannot believe that politicians are claiming there are no fuel shortages and has said the garages know otherwise.

In Perth, the Esso at the Broxden Services has been out of diesel for two days, and their delivery was cancelled on Thursday.

Ian Niven from the garage felt the panic buying was not as bad as it had been at the beginning of the week, but they were still seeing people filling up with small amounts. He also has legal and safety concerns about the number of people who are storing fuel in containers.

Petrol stations across the areas are continuing to experience problems with panic buying and supplies.

There have been reports from some garages of people filling up empty petrol cans and other containers, as well as their tanks. Some stations have said customers have reacted angrily to limits on the amount of petrol they can buy.

While Malhurst Ltd on Hamilton Road in Glasgow said it was having no problems, the Maryhill Service Station said it was running out of fuel and was not due a delivery until next week.

Angela Watson from the Express Service Station in Cumbernauld said she had seen a great deal of panic buying with many customers taking double the usual amount.

The Atlas Service Station in Glasgow said they have had to stop people from filling up petrol canisters and other containers.

Muhammad Ashref who owns a petrol station on South Carbrain Road, Cumbernauld, said panic buying started on Monday with his supplies running out two days early.

He said the garage now has fuel but, with people filling up their cars and cans in the back of their cars, he was not sure how long they would last.

Lothian buses will now be running bus services as usual on Monday.

The Scottish government said there had been a misunderstanding about diesel supply and the operator would receive enough fuel to maintain its usual service.

Fuel limits have been imposed at many forecourts

The Rix garage in Kirkcaldy, Fife, has been charging �1.30 for a litre of diesel and �1.20 for unleaded as demand increases ahead of any strike.

BP garages in Sighthill and Newbridge have run out diesel but still have petrol.

The Morrisons station at the Gyle shopping centre had long queues with motorists waiting for up to 30 minutes to get to the pumps.

The only garage in Linlithgow has been restricting purchases to �20 for petrol and diesel.

10,000 litres of diesel and red diesel fuel was siphoned out of two large tanks and stolen from a depot near Linlithgow on Monday. The fuel was valued at around �10,000.

In Fife, the Shell garage in St Andrews has run out of both petrol and diesel and long queues have formed at the town's only other garage, Morrisons.

They have just had a delivery and are not expecting to run dry.

Shell on Leslie Road, Glenrothes, has no diesel but a delivery is expected today and the other Shell in Glenrothes only has premium fuel left.

People have been coming in buying small quantities just to fill up their tanks.

There is no diesel in either the Shell or BP garage in Kirkcaldy.

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