Petrol station manager David Thompson was smiling with relief today as he awaited two tanker deliveries.

Mr Thompson has had a wait of nearly 48 hours and blamed Home Secretary Jack Straw for panicking motorists into draining the pumps dry at Esso's Oxpens Service Station in Oxford.

He said: "I'm supposed to get two deliveries today so things should return to normal. My only message to customers is 'don't make a problem where there isn't one'.

"I'm not going to limit sales but I shall be putting signs up asking people not to fill up jerricans. They don't need to do it and it's this that causes the problem."

Driving around the county yesterday it appeared although many drivers were filling up earlier than they would normally, they were heeding the warning to avoid a full-scale panic.

There is, of course, no guarantee that the situation will stay like this as we head towards the protesters planned mass demonstrations on November 14. But for the moment, it is business almost as usual.

At Youngs garage in Woodstock - which managed to have petrol reserves for 99 per cent of the protest in September - deputy manager Andy Sturt said: "Our sales have definitely gone up, but there has been no sign of panic buying yet. Although trying to pre-order tankers is difficult.

Victoria Williams wants to support the protesters"The last time round, we only sold out for half a day because we stuck limits on the amount people could buy. I think they appreciated that. Today, we sold 3,150 litres of petrol - 1,000 more than a week ago."

Customer Joe Coohill, an American lecturer with the Open University, was right behind the Government's response.

He said: "I don't mind paying more duty on petrol if necessary. I think the Government has responded properly. Prices are too high, but they should try to persuade people to use public transport and to drive smaller cars. This would also be good for the environment. I didn't know about Jack Straw's advice to stock up - I don't think that was wise.'

At BP's station on the Wolvercote roundabout, law student Victoria Williams, 22, was busy filling up.

"Yes, I am buying more than I usually would," she admitted. "But people would have filled up anyway, whatever Jack Straw said. It was an absolute nightmare last time. I want to support the protesters, but it's a very difficult situation for the average motorist. I live in Oxford but travel home to Leamington Spa at the weekends, and without a car it's terrible.'

At another BP station, on the Green Road roundabout in Headington, customer John McDermott said: "I think it was a good idea for Jack Straw to issue his warning. Although I must say that I think the protest is justified. The price of petrol is too high. I've just put 27 worth in my car, but then I am a salesman and I need to be on the road.

"I think people will continue to support the protesters."

Our final port of call was at Murco, at Templars Square. People were just buying more than usual. Like Graeme Lewis, of north Oxford, and his wife, Vanessa.

While Graeme filled up his Rover Vitesse, Vanessa was topping up the family Land Rover - a cool hundred quid's worth of petrol.

"Yes, we're filling up both cars," admitted Graeme, a Unigate worker who lives at Kidlington. "Straw's pronouncement was not wise. It'll encourage panic buying.

I'm just topping up to be on the safe side, that's all.

"I certainly support the protest - the tax on petrol is extortionate. The Government has got to reduce it.

"And not just for the private motorist, either. They've got to do it for business reasons. We can't compete with the rest of Europe."

Yesterday, it seemed a case of "crisis? what crisis?" as the county's drivers paid less attention to panic and more to prudence, despite Mr Straw's advice.

In the days and weeks ahead, however, Tony Blair's Government may yet find itself damned by 'fuelishness'...