AN investigation has been launched after thousands of motorists said they had been sold contaminated fuel.
Drivers said they had had problems after buying petrol from some service stations and supermarkets in the south of England, although there were reports it could have spread across the country.
It has been reported the outlets were selling petrol contaminated with ethanol without telling customers.
The BBC has received more than 1,000 emails from motorists who say their vehicles may have been affected.
Ian Hillier, of the Trading Standards Institute, said: "It is illegal to do this and trading standards authorities in the affected areas have begun an inquiry."
He said he understood there were about 75 to 100 complaints from people in the South-East.
Independent oil company Greenergy said it was testing fuel supplied to Tesco and Morrisons supermakets to see if it was faulty.
Greenergy supplies 'greener' fuels.
Drivers said vehicles had been juddering, misfiring and suffering a loss of power.
