TIME TO PANIC BUY AGAIN! Army’s secret training to operate fuel tankers
THIS is the first picture of the Army being secretly trained to use petrol tankers.
Soldiers were spotted at a BP garage in Leamington Spa, Warwicks, being shown how to operate a fuel tanker in a cloak and dagger operation that started on Bank Holiday Monday.
Driver Jaz Hayer, 33, was at a petrol station on the A46 at 7am that morning when he saw troops being shown the ropes.
He whipped out his camera and started snapping away – but was ordered to stop taking photos and keep quiet about what he had seen.
Jez said: “It seems like they were in full preparation for a strike. They were trying to do it discreetly but it is quite hard when there are so many people in uniform.
“It seemed like they didn’t want us to know they are preparing. They’re trying to get as many people trained so they’re ready for when it does happen.”
He added: “We’ve had strikes before but I’ve never seen anything like this. Everyone will now be thinking, ‘should we panic buy?’
Chaos
“I was only going to put £20 into my car but I ended up spending £120 and filling the tank. I’m sure I wouldn’t have been the only person either.”
Bungling Minister Francis Maude plunged the nation into chaos when he urged drivers to horde fuel last week.
He said: “A bit of fuel in a jerry can in the garage is a sensible precaution to take.”
His comments were blamed for panic buying which saw Yorkshire mum Diane Hill suffering 40% burns when she tried to pour petrol into jars near to a burning stove in her kitchen and set herself alight.
Trained
A spokesperson for BP said: “No date has been set for industrial action but as part of contingency measures MOD staff are being trained to operate tankers.
“All hauliers involved in the dispute are doing the same.”
Talks are ongoing between Unite union and the six distribution companies, with tanker drivers – who earn at least £45,000 per year – threatening industrial action over safety standards. Unite has to give a week’s notice before taking any strike action.