Petrol stations 'will have to close within weeks' over coronavirus impact

The Petrol Retailers Association says the drop in demand, which has also seen demand diesel fall by 71 per cent – means that petrol stations and forecourts are finding that their business is no longer viable during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The organisation said in a statement: "Many petrol stations will have to close in the coming weeks, as sales of fuel dry up and their businesses become unviable."

The trade association highlighted that the stations in rural locations are especially vulnerable to closure, and advised drivers to check that their local filling station is open before they go there to buy fuel.

Should a large number of forecourts close, the PRA has said that it will attempt to keep a ‘strategic network’ of stations open to keep essential transport moving.

PRA chairman Brian Madderson told the Press Association: "To help freight move and help key workers travel safely and independently through this period of crisis, petrol filling stations must remain open but this is proving to be a challenge.

"Fuel retailers are having to maintain pump prices at previous levels to avoid suffering significant stock losses."

With fuel consumption at its lowest since records began in 2003, the average price of a litre of petrol fell by 8p to £1.12 in the seven days to Monday, while diesel prices dropped 4p to £1.19.

At some stations petrol is now retailing at less that £1 per litre.

And with the PRA claiming that three out of five stations have full tanks of fuel, bought for full price before the crash, many stand to lose money in the current climate.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “

"The Government has robust contingency plans in place to ensure that fuel continues to be available to the public.”

The PRA, which represents independent fuel retailers who account for 70 per cent of UK forecourts.