Major UK petrol station chains BP, Shell and Texaco have all made a change to rules for drivers filling up on petrol following long queues over the weekend amid a supposed fuel shortage.

Competition law has been suspended in an attempt to get a grip on the fuel shortages being driven by panic-buying motorists, ministers have announced.

The decision comes after Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng met with oil companies and retailers on Sunday to address another day of continued queuing for the pumps, with thousands of petrol stations running dry.

Boris Johnson is thought to be considering sending in troops to drive oil tankers after days of panic buying saw filling stations in many areas run dry.

The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) chairman Brian Madderson confirmed some training had been taking place “in the background” for military personnel.

BP, Shell and Texaco bring in rule at petrol stations

Forecourts belong to BP, Shell and Texaco have been forced to change rules on filling up amid panic buying across the UK.

Petrol stations belonging to the three companies have introduced a £30 limit for driver who need to fill up as people continue to panic buy despite warnings not to.

EG Group which runs around 400 petrol stations across the UK under the three companies has introduced a £30 limit to give customers a “fair chance to refuel”.

PRA chairman Brian Madderson told the BBC the forecourt closures and depleted pumps were down to "panic buying, pure and simple".

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: "While there has always been and continues to be plenty of fuel at refineries and terminals, we are aware that there have been some issues with supply chains.

"This is why we will enact the protocol to ensure industry can share vital information and work together more effectively to ensure disruption is minimised."

Meanwhile, Edwin Atema from the Dutch FNV union, which represents drivers across the Europe, said the offer of temporary visas would not be enough to attract drivers back to the UK.

“On the short-term I think that will be a dead end,” he told the Today programme.

“So more is needed, and I think the EU workers we speak to will not go to the UK for a short-term visa to help UK out of the s*** they created themselves.”