zut alors.....

Cue music: (lost in france by Bonnie Tyler)

Yup, I've experienced this. I was told off at the cheap Cite de Europe petrol station near Calais for putting too much fuel in. Fortunately :-

A) I hadn't understood a written sign (oops)

b) The petrol was already in my tank

I'm now in the Dordogne - doesn't seem a problem down here yet - I've just filled up OK tonight

However if you are leaving Blighty for France I would suggest leaving with a reasonably full tank

Edited by Big John on 25/05/2016 at 23:45

Just received a tweet from Kent based media advising of delays on the ferries between Dover & Calais - very worried if this is related to the fuel situation or any sympathy action this might lead to the imposition of "Operation Stack" when the M20 is closed to be used as a HGV park, or worse still the new scheme of using the runway of the former RAF Manston airport as a lorry park, with all the congestion this will cause on the M2, A299 and other local roads in Kent.

Due to strike action and blockading of fuel depots and refineries, anybody planning to travel to and within France may have a problem obtaining fuel at the moment and until the dispute is settled it seems.

Many filling stations ran dry over last weekend and Monday and Tuesday.

Don't arrive with an empty tank and expect to fill up with cheap french diesel, there may not be fuel available where you need it-also there may be a limit on how much you will be able to buy 20 - 30 litres is common.

To stop repeat fuel buying stations have disabled the 24 hour pumps as well.

Best advice is to fill before you get on the ferry and top up as you go in France wherever you can find fuel on your journey.

Diesel is the first fuel to run out at fuel stations, about 70% of cars are diesel over here. UL95 seems to be more readily available

The shortages have been worse in the north and north-west but are spreading south.

The unions have also threatened to shut down power stations and power cuts are expected.

There is an interactive map of fuel stations here,

www.ouest-france.fr/economie/transports/penurie-de...3

but not all stations are on it and the accuracy is doubtful IMHO.

The situation has eased considerably, diesel and petrol are more widely available, the authorities have cleared the blockades at the fuel depots.

But, the 24 hour pumps are still disabled, so fuel is only available during shop hours except on autoroutes, you won't get any fuel on a Sunday out in the rural areas, and the ban on filling cans with diesel remains.