By Guy Faulconbridge

LONDON (Reuters) -Lengthy queues formed outside gas stations across London again on Wednesday as the strain on fuel supplies continued despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying the situation was improving.

Britain is being gripped by panic buying for nearly a week. This has happened after oil companies said they didn’t have enough drivers to transport petrol and diesel from the refineries to filling station trucks.

Johnson attempted to soothe public concern by saying that supply was returning to normal, while also reminding people not to panic shop. However, in some regions hundreds of forecourts remain closed while motorists wait in line to refill their tanks.

Reuters reporters witnessed long lines outside of gas stations beginning at 0600 in London, and continued on the M25 orbital road around the British capital. They also received warnings about the lack of fuel availability at some locations.

Johnson has refused to grant doctors and nurses priority when filling their cars with fuel to ensure that hospitals and health care services are running.

Media reports suggest that 150 British Army tanker drivers are being held on reserve by the government.

According to industry groups, fuel shortages are most severe in London and the Southeast as well as other English cities. As drivers jostled to get fuel, fights broke out on some forecourts. Social media photos showed people filling old water bottles full of fuel.

According to the Petrol Retailers Association, which represents about two-thirds all 8,380 UK forecourts and accounts for 37% of their members’ fuel stations, on Tuesday, 37% were short of fuel.

The shortages have added to an air of chaos in the world’s fifth-largest economy after a dearth of truck drivers throughout the economy left gaps on supermarket shelves, while a spike in European wholesale prices has tipped energy companies into bankruptcy.

Johnson stated that Johnson wanted to ensure the company had all necessary preparations to make it through Christmas. Johnson added, “We want to make sure we have everything we need to supply the petrol stations and all other parts of our supply chains.