This is why Asda's Hereford petrol station is partially shut

On Thursday, BP said it had closed a “handful” of its petrol forecourts due to a lack of available fuel.

And a “small number” of Tesco refilling stations have also been impacted, said Esso owner ExxonMobil, which runs the sites.

Live updates on fuel at garages: How Herefordshire is affected

But despite the reported fuel shortages in the UK, caused by a lack of lorry drivers, Asda's petrol station in Hereford was partially closed for a different reason.

A spokesperson said it did not have the staff to man the pumps, at the junction of the A49 and A465 near Greyfriars Bridge, and only pay at pump was available.

"There was a last minute illness call in which is why there is nobody manning the manual pumps," a spokesperson for the chain said.

Only pay at pump is available. Picture: Hattie Young

"However we have cover starting at 2pm so hopefully everything will be back to normal by then."

At a meeting a week ago BP reportedly told the Government that the company was struggling to get fuel to its forecourts.

Its head of UK retail Hanna Hofer described the situation as “bad, very bad”, according to a report by ITV News.

BP had “two-thirds of normal forecourt stock levels required for smooth operations”, she said, adding that the level is “declining rapidly”.

The AA has said that most of the UK’s forecourts are working as they should amid worries over supply of petrol at some sites.