THE folk of the Fylde want the price of petrol to come down now!

That's the results of our exclusive survey about the fuel crisis that has brought the whole of the North West grinding to a halt.

Four out of five people questioned said they wanted to see a cut in fuel prices now -- but some were concerned that panic buying was making the fuel shortages worse.

The fuel crisis has struck after lorry drivers and farmers, fed-up at paying what they call extortionate rates of tax, blockaded Shell fuel depots at Ellesmere Port.

More blockades then sprung up around the country and by last weekend, pumps throughout Lancashire were running dry.

As shortages of diesel, unleaded and lead-replacement petrol started to take effect, chaos reigned along the whole of the Fylde coast.

Supermarket shelves ran bare as people stocked up with essentials and huge queues formed on roads as patient motorists lined up to try and get a tank-full before the stations ran dry.

But despite the fact that thousands of people have been disrupted by the fuel crisis, many people on the streets are in favour of the action. Andrew Groome, a 30-year-old delivery driver from Whitegate Drive in Blackpool, said he was worried that if the action didn't end soon he would not be able to work due to lack of fuel.

But he added that he thought the blockades were the only way to make the Government pay attention.

"They've got us over a barrel with these stealth taxes on fuel and the such," he said.

"I think Blair has got it really wrong on this one -- we're all behind them!"

Single mother, Sarah Monkford, 22, from Lytham said she thought it was terrible that she couldn't get to the shops to buy things for her two-year old, but added: "Petrol is so expensive that I can't afford to fill up a lot of the time any way."

Mr and Mrs Holme are on holiday in Blackpool for the week from Ayrshire in Scotland and are worried they may not have enough fuel to get them home, but still think the Government has got it wrong.

"Blair and the others need their heads knocking together," said Mr Holme, a retired office worker.

"But I am worried about people panic buying, which I don't think is necessary at the moment."

Mr and Mrs Cairns, another retired couple, on holiday from Co. Antrim in Northern Ireland, already know about paying too much for fuel.

"We pay more in Northern Ireland than they do in the south," said Mr Cairns.

"I would like to see a reduction in price, but this action has left us without enough fuel to get home."

The final word came from Rebecca Sanderson, a retired shop keeper from Thornton: "I don't drive!"