pounds 11 A GALLON; Garages are cashing in on panic buying Source: Scottish Daily Record Publication date: 2000-09-12

PROFITEERING petrol companies yesterday sent prices soaring as they took advantage of panic buying. As filling stations across Scotland began to run dry, one firm pushed up prices by 5p a litre to cash in.

The price hike by English-based Save left the average motorist paying an extra pounds 2.50 to fill a tank.

Yesterday, Save, who have 21 stations in Scotland, said they had no regrets about the price hike.

A spokeswoman said: "Other people are selling at a loss and that's not our fault.

"We're running out and we took the decision to increase the price. "

But the most extreme price rise in Britain was in Derby, where a garage owner stunned customers with the first pounds 11 gallon.

Police were called to Paul Gizzonio's forecourt to defuse clashes between drivers and staff over prices of pounds 1.99 a litre - pounds 9 a gallon - for ordinary unleaded petrol and pounds 2.50 - pounds 11 a gallon - for super unleaded.

Mr Gizzonio, 37, said he had put up the prices as a protest to show what was in store if the Government continued to raise fuel tax.

The rises were condemned by the AA as scandalous. A spokeswoman said: "It is hitting people who need the petrol most."

Customers at Save's London Road garage in Edinburgh were angry about the rises.

Jack Calder, 58, said: "It's profiteering and it's racketeering, but people need petrol for their cars."

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-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 12, 2000