More than 600 filling stations had no fuel to sell this morning as the tanker drivers' strike came to an end.
Reports of fuel shortages have come in from motorists across the country, but there was particular concern about the supply in the south-west and Welsh borders.
Some fuel station managers have responded to the panic by raising prices - one garage in Exwick, Devon, hiked its prices to £1.99 a litre, before backing down in the face of widespread criticism.
The tanker drivers, who are employed by Hoyer to deliver fuel to Shell's petrol stations, have been on strike since 6am on Friday because of a dispute over pay. They returned to work at 6am this morning.
Unite, the driver's union, has said it is hopeful about progress in the latest round of negotiations, having previously rejected a six per cent pay offer that the haulage companies claims would have taken a driver's salary to more than £41,000.
A second strike has been planned for this weekend.
The protests have so far remained peaceful, unlike in Spain, where a tanker driver was run over and killed while trying to stop a van from crossing a picket line.
