LANCASHIRE motorists have been advised to fill up with enough petrol for return journeys south to avoid problems with fuel.

An investigation has been launched after thousands of drivers claimed their vehicles had broken down after being sold contaminated fuel.

Drivers experienced problems after buying petrol from service stations and supermarkets, including Morrisons and Tesco in the Midlands and South.

The spotlight is on fuel sensors that have failed in some vehicles.

But the two companies and trading standards officers have confirmed there have been no complaints about petrol in Lancashire filling stations.

Lead officer for Lancashire Trading Standards, Julian Wilson said: "We've had no complaints about dodgy petrol purchased in Lancashire.

"Anyone who thinks they have made such a purchase should make a complaint to the garage it was bought from and inform trading standards.

"I advise anyone travelling south to fill up first and use premium rate fuel which has not had any reported problems."

A spokeswoman for Tesco: "It seems to be confined to the South East and linked to a refinery and tank in Essex, used by us and other supermarkets.

"We are carrying out extensive tests in conjunction with bodies such as trading standards and have found no abnormalities."

A spokesman for Morrisons said: "We have not found anything wrong with our petrol."