There was panic at the pumps across the Falmouth, Penryn and Helston areas on Thursday after fears of a strike by petrol tanker drivers left motorists scrabbling to fill up.

At one stage Helston had completely run out of petrol and diesel, while many forecourts in Falmouth and Penryn were either forced to limit sales after running very low on stocks, or had to close after running out.

The majority of petrol stations have since been restocked, and fears that fuel shortages could affect motorists over the Easter holidays have been dismissed after statements from the driver’s union Unite.

The union would have to give seven days’ notice of industrial action if talks broke down and has said it will not be calling Easter strike action as they “focus on substantive talks through ACAS”.

It has, however, made clear that drivers “retain the right to call strike action” after the holidays if talks break down.

The wave of pandemonium has been partly blamed on “poor” advice from government ministers, which prompted a wave of panic buying across the country.

Motoring organisations and petrol retailers have lined up to criticise the advice from ministers.

A statement by government minister Francis Maude that drivers should stockpile fuel in “jerry cans”, was branded as simply “dangerous”.

Edmund King, the president of the AA, said the fuel shortages were “self-inflicted” as no strike had been called and fuel supplies were being delivered as normal.

Such was the hysteria, at all levels, that tourism bosses even called for the government to send in the army after fears the panic would leave businesses struggling over the Easter weekend.

There were fears that shortages could have stopped drivers jumping in the car for a trip to the Duchy, unless steps were taken to calm worried motorists.

There were also signs of communities looking after their own, after a report that the holidaying driver of a motorhome had been refused fuel at a garage near Kynance Cove, because she was not local.

Kynance Garage owner, Henry Johnson, said he was “forced to ration fuel” for account holders and to £10 for locals.

The visitors later found fuel at a supermarket garage, and vowed not to return to the county.

Tempers also began to fray with Helston South and Porthleven councillor Andrew Wallis saying when he was speaking to staff in a petrol station on Friday, they said people came “near to fighting over fuel” at the height of the panic.

There were also reports of strange priorities, after a petrol station in Penryn reported a man trying, and failing, to obtain £500 of fuel for his boat.