Motorists, petrol station bosses, shoppers and retailers are this weekend waiting with baited breath for Keighley's deliveries of petrol as cracks start to appear in the blockade.

With the lifting of the blockade at the Stanlow, Cardiff and Grangemouth refineries yesterday morning many people were hoping for the first tankers to arrive in Keighley in the next couple of days.

Fuel of all types ran out in Keighley early on in the week as a frenzy of panic buying swept through the town.

Supermarkets have suffered too as shoppers empty the shelves of bread and milk within hours of the doors opening.

Three of the town's petrol stations have been designated as "priority" stops by the government and have been assured of the first deliveries of fuel.

But Angie Beddoes from the Jet filling station, one of the lucky three, says: "We still have nothing available and we don't know when we're getting anything.

"The last I heard was that the Immingham refinery is still blockaded but the drivers are meeting at 9am today," she said yesterday.

Jet's other two local filling stations on West Lane and Park Lane were closed yesterday as was the Almar Fina filling station on Hard Ings, another of the prioritised garages.

Brian Porter, who works at the Shell station on Hard Ings, the third priority filling station, said yesterday their supply had been designated for emergency services only.

"We were as amazed as everyone else. We're getting lots of normal drivers trying to get the fuel but it's only for fire, police and ambulance."

Staff at BP garage on Oakworth Road ran out of fuel on Monday morning but are hopeful of a delivery on Sunday.

Sainsbury's petrol has also been commandeered for the sole use of the emergency services.

Adrian Riches, stock control manager, said yesterday he was not expecting any new deliveries of fuel.

In the supermarket shoppers have been buying emergency rations fearing the fuel crisis holds and Mr Riches reported a 80 to 90 per cent increase in trade.

"We have had to limit customers to six pints of milk and three loaves. It's the increase in trade which has caused the problem and we just can't react quick enough to an increase like that," said Mr Riches.

Staff at Morrisons and the Co-Op store, in Silsden, told a similar story and said although daily deliveries were getting through panic buying was stripping the shelves.

Andrea Wade, in Silsden, said: "We've got people emergency buying and the bread is running out by 11am. It's just like Christmas with people doing big trolleyful shops."

Bradford council has had to ration its fuel supplies during the week and restricted its use to priority services such as welfare, social servcies, refuse collection and school food deliveries.

David Kennedy, assistant chief executive for regeneration and the environment, says: "We'll continue to monitor the situation to see if any further action is needed later this week."

North Yorkshire County Council has set up a helpline for schools and have issued advice to help maintain teaching levels. Most schools have stayed open but a number of home to school buses have been affected.

Officers are advising if the crisis continues that parents should not leave their children at school in the morning until they are certain the school is open and teachers are present.

Libraries have remained open although the mobile library has been withdrawn. Home care services have managed to continue with social services staff covering, where possible, for community nurses.