Fuel tanker drivers returned to work and ended their four-day strike over pay today ahead of fresh talks aimed at averting another walk-out over pay and conditions this weekend.

More than 600 members of the Unite union employed by two haulage firms started delivering fuel to Shell garages for the first time since the end of last week.

But garages in Shropshire are still experiencing major problems as people continue to panic buy.

Meole Brace Service Station in Hereford Road, Shrewsbury, ran out of unleaded yesterday and was forced to put a limit on all petrol and diesel today.

A spokesman said: “We have got a limit of £15 on all of it. We only have a little bit of diesel left and are expecting a delivery today or tomorrow morning.

“People are still panic buying and it is causing problems.”

Harlescott Service Station, in Shrewsbury, ran out of unleaded and diesel over the weekend and is still waiting for a delivery to arrive.

The industrial action caused shortages of one or more types of fuel at half of Shell’s 582 UK sites, with 121 running out altogether.

Shell filling stations in the Telford area were slowly returning to normal as tanker drivers returned to work.

The branch at Holyhead Road, Ketley, was expecting a delivery of fuel later today or tomorrow, while at Sutton Maddock supplies were back to normal.

Shell at Stirchley, which ran out of fuel, was expecting a delivery imminently, as was the Shell at Walker’s Clock in Donnington.