Traffic in Maldon has calmed down following a weekend of long queues at petrol stations amid concerns over fuel supply - despite the Government and oil companies saying there is no need to panic buy.

6.30pm: Tesco Extra, on Fullbridge Road, has petrol and diesel after receiving a delivery earlier this afternoon.

2.30pm: Petrol is currently available at Tesco Extra, on Fullbridge Road, and Morrison's, on Limebrook Way - but four days of panic buying from spooked motorists has caused both stores to run out of diesel.

A sign has been put up outside the petrol station at Morrison's, on Limebrook Way, to inform motorists that it currently has no diesel.

Tesco Esso Express in Danbury, on Maldon Road, has both petrol and diesel.

The petrol station at Tesco Extra, on Fullbridge Road, has said that it will be getting a fuel delivery this afternoon at 4pm.

Morrison's is set to receive a delivery this evening at 8pm.

While there were long queues for the Morrison's petrol station this morning, the traffic had calmed down by 2pm this afternoon.

Traffic is otherwise generally clear throughout the town.

Issues people have been encountering at petrol stations come from a lack of HGV drivers to distribute fuel - not because there was a shortage of fuel itself.

The Government has said that it has put the British Army on standby to ease the crisis.

The Essex fire service has also urged residents not to hoard fuel, following reports that residents have been filling up jerry cans and other containers as well as their fuel tanks.

Will Newman, head of prevention at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, said yesterday: "We urge the public against the storing of petrol and diesel due to their high flammability.

"Because of the fire risks they should be stored in approved containers, in a well-ventilated area, and never inside the home."

The fire service is also reassuring residents that it has enough fuel supplies to run all emergency vehicles across the county.

You can view the full advice from the fire service via the link here.