Two petrol stations in Colchester have run out of fuel after routes to major oil refineries were blocked by climate change protestors.

Fuel forecourts run by Tesco in the Hythe and Highwoods have been forced to close as a result.

However, the closure is not believed to be linked to a shortage in supplies of petrol and diesel.

Gazette: Drivers who had gone to the Tesco petrol station in the Hythe had no choice but to look elsewhereDrivers who had gone to the Tesco petrol station in the Hythe had no choice but to look elsewhere

Instead, petrol stations are running out of fuel due to delivery issues caused by protest groups from Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion.

Earlier this week, demonstrators in Thurrock dug underneath roads leading to oil terminals which prevented deliveries to petrol stations across the county.

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But the problems have been more widespread than in Essex, with oil refineries near London and Birmingham being blocked last Friday.

Although ten oil refineries had initially been targeted last week, by Monday only one oil terminal, near Heathrow, was still being blocked.

Gazette: The petrol station at the Hythe was eerily emptyThe petrol station at the Hythe was eerily empty

Essex Police made more than 170 arrests earlier this week as a result of the demonstrations.

And Simon Williams of the RAC said although it had caused problems, the disruption is not expected to be long-lasting.

He said: “We understand that operations are now back to normal which will mean forecourts will receive new supplies very soon.”