Fuel shortages have improved since yesterday as surge buying wanes, but a north-south divide means some areas of the UK “remain critical” going into the next week, the Petrol Retailers Association has warned.
Brian Madderson, chairman of the PRA, said a lack of fuel remained a “really big problem” in London and the south east.
And he told Sky News: “We have just completed our survey of over 1,000 sites across the UK and the situation is very much better than it was yesterday.
“68% of sites have both grades, 16% have one type or the other, and so only 16% – compared to 27% yesterday – have no fuel and are dry.
“It is much better in the north and Scotland and London and the south east really remain the critical area going forward into next week.”
He said the situation is a “big 10-point improvement” over the last few days, as the army prepares to step in and deliver supplies.
Military drivers are “out today training with existing drivers and will be ready to start on Monday taking their own tankers around”, he added.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed members of the armed forces were training at the BP oil terminal in Hemel Hempstead.
Mr Madderson warned against “price gouging”, following reports some stations had increased prices by up to 10p a litre, but said consumers could expect up to 3p a litre increase due to the rise in wholesale prices.
Sir Ed Davey accused the Prime Minister of incompetence, calling the situation “ludicrous”.