The BP filling station on Mound Way, Woodside

An investigation was under way today after unleaded fuel pumps at a Shropshire filling station mysteriously began dispensing diesel fuel.

The mix-up happened at the BP service station in Mound Way, Woodside in Telford, on Saturday afternoon at about 4.30pm.

One motorist today said he filled up his car at the station and after he drove away the car began to slow down and start spluttering as the fuel worked through.

A spokesman for the BP station at Woodside said the pump which was dispensing diesel had since been shut down.

He said an investigation was under way to discover how the incident happened.

“It’s a bit of a mystery but we have closed down the affected pump,”said the spokesman.

“The diesel fuel was delivered on Tuesday so it could not have been directed to the wrong pump because it would have affected hundreds of vehicles if this was the case.

“We have been investigating the incident and we will not stop until we have discovered what went wrong,” added the spokesman.

He claimed any compensation claims from motorists would be referred to BP’s legal department.

The incident is believed to have affected two motorists.

Kelvin Jones, of Warrens Way, Woodside, said he filled his 2002 Jaguar XJS with what he thought to be unleaded fuel. But after driving his vehicle a few miles, Mr Jones claimed his car began spluttering and losing power.

Mr Jones, a plasterer, called an AA patrol, who informed him he had filled his tank with diesel instead of unleaded petrol.

The patrol helped him drain the diesel away before refilling the tank with unleaded fuel, but Mr Jones fears his car has suffered long-term damage. “The car is still not right and it could be causing all sorts of damage,” he said.

By Brett Gibbons