QUEUES built up across Bolton as motorists flocked to the forecourts to fill their tanks ahead of this week's planned petrol protests.

And the panic buying has caused sales to triple at some Bolton petrol stations.

Police chiefs reported on Tuesday that a surge of motorists at petrol stations at Middlebrook retail centre caused traffic jams and tailbacks.

A spokesman for the Texaco garage in Albert Road, Farnworth, said: "We have done triple the amount of trade we would normally do.

"People are panicking and it got worse yesterday (Monday) as the day went on."

He said that if they did not get a delivery by Tuesday, they would definitely run out.

And at the Esso Filling Station in Bradford Street, trade doubled on Monday.

The manager there said: "It's been very hectic. Things have been building up gradually over the past three days, but fortunately we've just had a delivery in.

"I know there has been talk of rationing but we'll just have to see what happens later on in the week."

The Shell petrol station in Crompton Way reported business was "way up" and the manager of the Texaco garage in Chorley New Road said: "I've been rushed off my feet on the tills.

"It is more like a weekend than an ordinary Monday morning."

The Bolton Evening News told last week how prices for a litre of fuel crashed through the £1 barrier when the Texaco garage in Compton Way advertised unleaded fuel at 105.9p per litre.

Now, angry hauliers and farmers - whose demonstrations brought the country to a standstill in September five years ago are planning three days of action starting on Wednesday.

Campaigners from the Fuel Lobby have given ministers until Tuesday to meet them to air their grievances.

Chancellor Gordon Brown has urged motorists to act with "common sense".

He admitted the current oil shock was as big as that of the 1970s, but promised speedy action to tackle a global problem.

It has also emerged that ministers have drawn up plans to ration petrol.

The Trade Department could order some filling stations to close, limit opening hours, or restrict sales to "priority users'.

Ray Holloway, director of the Petrol Retailers Association, said there had been some instances of panic buying of fuel but insisted the situation "did not compare" with anything from 2000.

Mr Holloway said on Monday: "It has been a day of increased sales and I really do appeal to people to actually just buy fuel when they need it.

"If people really do buy in the normal way, fuel will be available on the forecourts."

Haulage firm boss Chris Walsh, aged 46, of Chris Andrews Transport, in Mill Street, Bolton, owns and operates a fleet of five vehicles.

He was one of the first drivers on the forecourt at the Esso filling station in Bradford Street, Bolton, yesterday He said: "I spend £1,500 to £2,000 a month on fuel. The price of petrol at the moment is prohibitive and taxes are going up and up.

"Hauliers can apply for bunker cards so we can go to a variety of garages and pay one price, but these days I'm finding it cheaper to shop around and pay the pump price. That's why I stopped to fill up here."

Dental receptionist Barbara Whittaker, aged 58, of Little Lever, said: "I've heard about the blockades and that's why I'm filling up. I remember the queues last time.

"The price of petrol is ridiculous at the moment. The campaigners have a point but I don't think the protests will do any good."

Decorator Harry O'Mara, aged 45, who works for H and R Decorators in Dorset Street, Bolton, said: "I'd normally just put £10 in but I decided to fill up my tank after I heard the news.

"I think the campaigners are right doing what they're doing and I think the public should get behind them."

Taxi driver Hassan Alhakim, aged 31, of Chorley Old Road, Bolton, who works for Metro Taxis said: "The prices are stupid. The government should cut the taxes. Our profits are going down but we can't put the prices up or we'll lose customers. I am backing the blockades 100 per cent."