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‘Traffic chaos’ as Norwich garage sells fuel for under a pound per litre

Esso garage on Aylsham Road was selling cheap petrol. Picture: Neil Didsbury Neil Didsbury

A road in Norwich was gridlocked as drivers cashed in on a garage’s one-day offer of 99p fuel.

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The Esso garage, on Aylsham Road, sold fuel for 99.9 pence per litre yesterday, significantly less than the national average of around £1.30.

The offer was put on to celebrate the official reopening of the Broadside shop and Subway, after a three-month rebuild.

Esso garage on Aylsham Road was selling cheap petrol. Picture: Neil Didsbury Esso garage on Aylsham Road was selling cheap petrol. Picture: Neil Didsbury

Drivers rushed to take advantage of the offer, which was due to run from 10am to 4pm, but came to a close earlier in the afternoon after the garage hit its 20,000-litre fuel limit for the promotion.

Matt Launchbury, area manager for the Motor Fuel Group, said: “Thursday was the official relaunch of our Broadside shop and Subway, so what we’ve done is had an extensive three-month rebuild here and we’ve totally knocked down the existing site and rebuilt our new shop and Subway.

Esso garage on Aylsham Road was selling cheap fuel. Picture: Neil Didsbury Esso garage on Aylsham Road was selling cheap fuel. Picture: Neil Didsbury

“To celebrate that we’ve had the official launch with a fantastic offer on fuel of 99.9p.

“It’s been a really, really good success for us. We’ve just come to the end of the promotion, we’ve got through almost 20,000 litres of fuel which was our limit on what we’re allowed to sell at the promotion price.

Esso garage on Aylsham Road was selling cheap fuel. Picture: Neil Didsbury Esso garage on Aylsham Road was selling cheap fuel. Picture: Neil Didsbury

“We’ve had lots and lots of good customer feedback.”

Before the garage closed, Phil Large contacted us and said: “I haven’t seen fuel under a pound for years.”

Cheap petrol prices at the Esso garage on Aylsham Road, Norwich (Image: Phil Large) Cheap petrol prices at the Esso garage on Aylsham Road, Norwich (Image: Phil Large)

The demand for the offer saw traffic grind to a halt on Aylsham Road, with many taking to social media to share their experiences.

Twitter user @struckvalentine added: “Traffic chaos on Aylsham Road due to cheap petrol.”

Esso garage on Aylsham Road was selling cheap petrol (Image: Phil Large) Esso garage on Aylsham Road was selling cheap petrol (Image: Phil Large)

Marcus Sellars said: “Aylsham Road was completely packed because of the prices the garage is offering, it took me about 30 minutes to get from the Lidl to the Esso garage.”

Josh Farrow said: “I queued for half an hour just after lunchtime. It was a great atmosphere and reminded me of old times.”

Esso garage on Aylsham Road was selling cheap petrol (Image: Phil Large) Esso garage on Aylsham Road was selling cheap petrol (Image: Phil Large)

It came on the same day that Applegreen Petrol Station, on Cromer Road, also sold petrol for a reduced price. It had put its prices back to normal by the afternoon.

Check our live traffic map here.

Cars queued outside the garage earlier. Photo: Josh Farrow Cars queued outside the garage earlier. Photo: Josh Farrow