FUEL shortages have forced one of Helensburgh's two refill stations to close temporarily.

Pictures sent to the Advertiser by local resident Brian Welsh show the Tesco Esso Express garage on East Clyde Street shut to customers, with signs stating: "No fuel of any grade."

Brian, 42, took the photos just before 11am this morning (Monday), and told the Advertiser: "I was just out walking along the front for some messages - ironically I was walking to save driving - when I noticed the signs.

"There had been queues at the Morrisons petrol station along the road since Friday, never too out of hand and being managed by staff in hi-vis jackets. They don't seem to have run out - yet.

"When I saw the sign outside the Esso this morning I did notice quite a lot of cars coming to fill up only to see the forecourt was closed and drive on, presumably to Morrisons."

A short statement published online said the "petrol station at this location is currently closed for a short period," and apologised "for any inconvenience caused".

A spokesman for ExxonMobil, Esso's parent company, said that updates could not be provided on fuel availability at particular sites "as the situation is changing rapidly and we are focusing on optimising the availability of fuel across all Esso-branded sites".

Meanwhile, stewards were spotted at the town's only other refill station, at the Morrison's store on Cardross Road, over the weekend.

A statement from ExxonMobil added: "The majority of the 1,200 Esso branded sites in the UK are owned and operated by a number of independent retail companies – these companies are responsible for arranging supplies of Esso fuel from the supply terminal to their service stations.

"As regards our own operations, a number of our 200 Tesco Alliance sites (Esso forecourt with a Tesco Express shop) are impacted in some way.

"We are working closely with all parties in our distribution network to optimise supplies and minimise any inconvenience to customers. We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience.

"ExxonMobil operates the UK’s largest refinery and an extensive underground pipeline network supplying our fuel distribution terminals.

"All those operations continue as normal, with fuel production at Fawley refinery unaffected and with strong supply to our distribution terminals. 

"Despite the challenges faced on forecourts, the production and supply of fuels to our terminals is unaffected.

"Our advice is for motorists to stick to their normal buying patterns."

Thousands of petrol stations across the country have reportedly run dry amid “frenzied” panic buying - as ministers outlined plans to solve the HGV driver shortage fuelling the crisis.

Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland radio programme today: “There is an adequate supply of fuel to meet normal demand, but it does hinge on being able to distribute that fuel to all locations."

As well as the shortage of HGV drivers, which Mr Swinney blamed on Brexit, the industry has blamed “panic buying” from consumers for queues at forecourts around the UK.

Mr Swinney said the Scottish Government had not been in discussions with the Army about using soldiers to drive petrol tankers to stations.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reported to have been considering calling in the military to assist with fuel supply.