A mystery petrol contamination has brought cars to a grinding halt.

Drivers who filled up at Texaco on Avis Way, Newhaven, on Wednesday morning (November 28) had to be rescued just minutes after driving off the forecourt.

Two motorists only got around the corner before their cars choked to a halt.

Driver John Backshall was on the way to visit his partner in hospital when his Honda Accord broke down.

He fears the problem will cost him hundreds of pounds in repairs.

His mechanic Joe Mendall from Mend-All Auto Services in Seaford said it is the worst contamination he has seen in his 20-year career.

Contamination

“It is really badly contaminated fuel,” he said. “I have never come across it this bad before.

“And another garage around the corner from us has the same situation with a man who filled up on the same morning.

“It’s not diesel mixed in with petrol.

“There is a distinctive layer of fuel and the rest of what we have siphoned off is sludge.

“I don’t know what it is but it shouldn’t be there.”

Complaints

Rob Gochmanski, area manager for Tate’s Fuel which runs the Newhaven Texaco branch, said the problem is being investigated.

He said: “We have only had two customer complaints.

“When there is contaminated fuel lots of cars break down and there are lots of problems.

“Newhaven sells 10,000 litres of unleaded fuel a week. We have a lot of regular customers who have not been affected.”

But he said samples of fuel had been sent off for testing to see where the contamination had come from.

Mr Gochmanski added: “If it’s our fault and out responsibility we will do everything we can to help out.”

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