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'Contaminated' petrol causes cars to break down

At least 17 drivers have seen their cars break down after filling up at a supermarket petrol station in Carmarthen. Morrisons has apologised, and says a batch of unleaded petrol 'may have been contaminated with water.'

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Murco investigating if petrol from plant contaminated

Oil refining company Murco says it is investigating whether unleaded petrol from its plant in Milford Haven was contaminated by water.

It comes after a number of cars broke down after filling up at a Morrisons petrol station in Carmarthen.

Read More: Drivers angry as cars break down after filling up

We have been made aware that a number of deliveries of unleaded fuel from our Milford Haven Refinery may have been contaminated by water.

We are currently carrying out an investigation to determine whether such contamination has occurred at our site and its cause.

Until such time we complete our investigation we will maintain additional controls to ensure that any fuel leaving the site is free of contamination.

– Murco statement

Morrisons: Petrol may have been contaminated with water

Supermarket chain Morrisons has issued an update after a number of cars broke down after filling up at its petrol station in Carmarthen.

It says a batch of unleaded petrol from the Milford Haven Refinery "may have been contaminated with water."

Deliveries to stores in Carmarthen and also Llanelli appear to have been from the affected batch.

Read More: Drivers angry as cars break down after filling up

Morrisons sources its unleaded petrol from the Milford Haven Refinery, which has confirmed to us that a batch of fuel may have been contaminated with water.

Deliveries to two Morrisons stores – Carmarthen and Llanelli – appear to have been from the affected batch. As soon as we became aware of the problem we immediately took the unleaded off sale at these sites.

We apologise to those motorists affected and are doing everything we can to support them. Customers affected will be reimbursed for their fuel, vehicle recovery and any repairs which are needed.

– Morrisons spokesperson

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17 drivers break down after filling up at petrol station

At least 17 drivers have seen their cars break down after filling up at a supermarket petrol station in Carmarthen.

Morrisons was forced to close the unleaded pumps at its station at Parc Pensarn retail park, and to apologise to customers.

Morrisons admitted it found a water reading in two unleaded tanks in Carmarthen. Credit: Wales News Service

Driver Marc Skone bought £40 of petrol, but only got 100 metres from the forecourt before his car broke down.

He said: "It has cost £150 plus VAT to drain the tank - something I can't afford with Christmas coming."

A recovery company in Carmarthen has picked up 17 cars this morning which had used the supermarket's pumps.

A number of cars had to have their tanks drained after filling up with petrol. Credit: Wales News Service

A spokeswoman for Morrisons said: "We have registered a water reading in two of our unleaded petrol tanks at Carmarthen petrol station."

"We apologise to these motorists for any inconvenience that this has caused, and are passing their details to the AA who will carry out any necessary repairs."

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