One driver's "answer" to the French fuel shortage - take the pump

Petrol has been something of a rare commodity over the past week and the shortage certainly hasn't been helped by motorists rushing to service stations in an attempt to fill up.

Petrol pumps run dry (screenshot France 24 video)

The words of the prime minister, François Fillon, on Monday that "There will be no shortage," seem to have fallen on deaf ears and news reports have followed drivers from station to stations as they search for fuel.

No fuel (screenshot France 24 video)

No region of mainland France has been spared and those who have been lucky enough to find a pump working have usually been rationed to €20 or €30 worth.

In the midst of all the chaos though, there was one somewhat lighter moment, even if the man at the centre of what happened didn't think so at the time.

It occurred in eastern France in the town of Romilly-sur-Seine as a driver, eager to avoid running too low on fuel, patiently waited in line.

Drivers waiting in line (screenshot France 24)

But, as the regional daily L'Est-éclair reported, when his turn finally came to fill up, the pump - quite literally - ran dry.

And that was the simply the last straw as he lashed out, without reserve, at all those he considered responsible.

"He was screaming like madman," a witness told the newspaper.

"He was blaming everyone for the situation; the government, the strikers, the owner of the petrol station."

Yes it was one furious man who got back into his car and drove off...in the process forgetting to remove the fuel hose from his tank and taking the whole pump with him.

Oops