A mix-up at a Morrisons petrol station in Tiverton, Devon, has left several motorists facing repair costs of up to £3,000 after the wrong fuel was dispensed from the pumps.
The error meant that petrol was being pumped from a diesel nozzle - and diesel from a petrol one - causing drivers to unknowingly fill their vehicles with the incorrect fuel. Many only realised the problem when their cars broke down shortly afterwards.
Forklift driver Graham Stevens was among those affected. After filling his Vauxhall Insignia estate with what he believed to be diesel, he received a repair estimate of £2,800.
“I put in £50 worth of what I thought was diesel,” he told BBC News.
“I live about a minute away, so I didn’t notice anything wrong at first. But when I set off for work early the next morning, the car started spluttering and then died.”
Mr Stevens managed to reach his workplace in Dunkeswell before the vehicle broke down completely. A mechanic later confirmed that the fuel injectors were blocked due to petrol contamination.
Motor Fuel Group (MFG), which operates the Morrisons petrol station, admitted the fault was theirs. However, Mr Stevens said he was later told not to contact the company directly and has yet to hear from its insurers despite assurances that the matter would be handled.
“I simply can’t afford to pay for the repairs myself,” he said.
Other drivers have shared similar experiences on local social media.
One mother, Susan Trudgill, said both her car and her daughter’s car were affected.
“Both my daughter’s and my car broke down,” she wrote. “We’ve had to hire a rental. One car repair cost £108 plus £220 for the rental - and we’re still waiting for the other car to be fixed.”
Another driver said their car had to be abandoned after filling up, while one local resident claimed this was not the first time such an error had occurred at the same station.
“It happened to me in October last year,” they said. “I filled up with £30 of diesel, got home, and the car was running rough. The garage told me there was petrol in the tank - it cost over £3,000 to fix.”
MFG has been contacted for further comment.
