Special service Priest uses electric car for fuel rescue

A priest was yesterday offering lifts in his electric car to his congregation after a wedding guest had their fuel stolen.

Amid the national fuel panic-buying chaos, Reverend Dr Steven Sivyer tweeted that the guest had driven to Norfolk and had their “tank emptied” on Saturday night.

He tweeted: “I was saddened that someone who travelled to Norfolk yesterday to be a part of a wedding, having spent hours to have the fuel, had their tank emptied overnight.

“I’m blessed to own an electric vehicle. If you’re stuck without fuel and you have an urgent journey to make, message me.”

Norfolk Police have been contacted for comment. Yesterday they tweeted about the fuel shortages to ask people to keep highways clear for emergency services.

They wrote: “We are aware of drivers queuing at some petrol stations in Norfolk. Keeping highways clear is essential for public services but particularly emergency responders and hindering them could cause a public health risk.

“Please follow the latest government guidance around buying fuel.”

Others took to social media to vent their frustration at not being able to attend weddings after they were unable to fill their car tanks.

One woman, named only as Andrea on Twitter, wrote: “I’m pretty devastated.

“Everywhere here was gridlocked as people queued for fuel and the stations ran out so I couldn’t get to a friend’s wedding in Exeter.”

Another, Karen Olla, tweeted: “I wish Amazon sold fuel. This wedding on Tuesday in Devon is looking like a myth.”

Meanwhile, ambulance drivers across the UK tweeted their upset as it became increasingly difficult to find fuel and several had to drive to numerous petrol stations to fill up.

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said that emergency services however will not be affected.

The spokesman said: “We have tried and tested plans in place, and therefore we have no current issues with accessing fuel for our frontline vehicles.”