Get your skates on! How one parish council plans to tackle the fuel crisis

Fears over petrol shortages have prompted a council to introduce contingency plans to supply meals for the elderly.

A parish council in the Rhondda Valley has asked for volunteers to step forward to help with the delivery of meals for the housebound by training to use roller skates and push specially-adapted carts which will carry the hot dinners.

Training sessions are being offered at the O Cwm On leisure centre where those taking part will be taught how to negotiate tricky corners, driveways and pot holes.

“It’s tiring but worth it for the community, I’m doing my bit,” said Phil Faux after emerging unscathed from a chicane of orange plastic cones.

[Related story: No strike yet, but petrol sales jump 172%]

"If that David Cameron could see what his policies have driven - or shall I say rolled - us to, he would be ashamed," said the 45-year-old managing director of Tall Tales Media Enterprises.

The measures will be implemented when petrol stations run dry, said chair of emergency planning Avril Feul from Upper Twaddle parish council.

[Related gallery: Chaos as drivers head for the pumps]

‘We’ve instigated a plan of action called Well Wheely Good Grub to replace our regular service,’ she said.

‘These are unusual circumstances but we have to prepare for all eventualities, you have to plan for what’s around the corner.’