GRIDLOCKED roads and petrol pump queues reappeared in East Lancashire as panic buying returned -- thanks to a rumour.

Traffic came to a halt in most towns, forcing police to close some garage forecourts to avoid congestion. Every available officer in Blackburn was put on traffic duty.

False rumours about fuel shortages, believed to have been started by a flippant remark by a DJ on South Wales's Red Dragon Radio, sparked a return to last week's queues, despite repeated calls for calm. Reassurances from all the major petrol companies failed to stop the panic, which set in around midday. Within two hours large queues built up at major petrol stations.

One of the busiest was at Morrisons, Blackburn, and within a short time rationing returned, with motorists only allowed £15 worth of fuel. Queues outside the store blocked town centre roads. Inspector Peter Zsigmond of Blackburn police said: "Roads quickly became gridlocked."

Police acted quickly to stave off panic buying and further petrol shortages. Chief Inspector Peter Smith said: "We are appealing to motorists not to panic."

Derek Robinson, who works for Auto Scales and Services in Blackburn, had been waiting in queue at Morrisons. He said his boss had heard the tanker drivers were threatening to strike and told him to fill the car up. Mr Robinson, of Bank Lane in the town, said the police had turned him away from several garages because of the queues. He said: "This was the only one I could get into."

Mohammed Khan, of Whalley Range, was also waiting to fill his car up. He said he had heard the tanker drivers were going on strike. He said: "I saw the queues and thought I had better fill up. The last time this happened I had to queue for three hours just to get £10 worth of petrol."

Accrington and Clitheroe town centres came to a standstill.

Hyndburn Labour MP Greg Pope, who was caught up in the panic in Accrington town centre, said: "It is a very fragile situation but this is a time for cool heads. Cutting petrol tax by two pence is neither here not there. The government needs to get the world price of oil down."

Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans said: "The government needs to do something to cut petrol duty or this type of panic buying will occur again and again and again."

Police said all problems had subsided by this morning. A spokesman for Esso said: "Our fuel deliveries are taking place as normal"

The Radio Authority is investigating complaints about the Cardiff-based station.

Picture: A police officer directs traffic as a long queue forms for the petrol station at Morrisons, Blackburn