Biker was left broken down by roadside for SEVEN HOURS in alleged petrol pump blunder

Motorists caught up in a ‘fuel mix-up’ at a rural filling station have this week told how it impacted their trip to the region.

Last Friday, we told how drivers were left fuming after an alleged blunder with fuel pumps at the Lix Toll filling station, near Killin.

Drivers raised concerns that their vehicles had been filled with the wrong type of fuel – despite saying they had used the correct pumps late last month.

Local reports suggested that the petrol station’s unleaded pump was mistakenly filled with diesel.

The firm which supplies the fuel to the station vowed to investigate. Bryan Main, managing director for Certas Energy Mobility, said: “Following a customer query regarding the fuel stock at Lix Toll fuelling station, we have closed the pumps in question while we undertake a full investigation. The rest of the site remains operational.”

READ MORE: Scots pensioner loses four-figure sum in heartless con as scammers pretend to be police officers

READ MORE: TV chef Nick Nairn closes popular Bridge of Allan restaurant due to it being “no longer viable”

One motorist caught up was Dave Mackinnon, from Cambridge, who had filled up at the station at around 11am on Friday, August 30, during a three-day trip where he was riding his motorcycle around Scotland.

Dave, who runs a small ambulance company, topped up his KTM motorcycle there, but was left standing by the roadside for more than seven hours when his bike broke down in a lay-by on the A85 – just half a mile from Lix Toll – leaving him with a £260 repair bill.

He had purchased around £17 worth of unleaded fuel at the filling station before breaking down.

Motorists who filled up their vehicles at the Lix Toll fuelling station say their vehicles were filled with the wrong substance
Motorists who filled up their vehicles at the Lix Toll fuelling station say their vehicles were filled with the wrong substance -Credit:Google

Dave this week told the Stirling Observer: “I only filled up as my colleague needed to – although his bike wasn’t affected as he used a different pump. I used the pump nearest to the road and put £17.27 worth of unleaded in, the bike started as normal but within 200m of the garage it started to misfire.

Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area.

“As the bike, a KTM 1290 SuperDuke GT, was brand new in May it had never done this before. Within 500m the bike was unrideable. Luckily there was a lay-by on the right which I managed to reach before the bike conked out, otherwise I would have broken down on the side of a very fast road which would have been extremely dangerous.”

Dave then called for roadside assistance, but was told there would be a wait of at least three hours.

A fuel drainage specialist was then called to drain the tank and clean up the fuel Dave had thought was unleaded petrol at around 5pm that day.

“He had to drain and flush my full fuel tank before adding fresh petrol and then get the bike started”, Dave added. “The process took over an hour meaning, in total, I had spent over seven hours in the lay-by without facilities, food, drink, or even a seat.”

Dave has since filed a complaint and a request for compensation with Certas.

“This event really spoiled my long-awaited weekend riding in Scotland which, living in Southern England, took weeks to arrange. I am determined to make sure Certas Energy pay for that.”

A couple who had been visiting the area on holiday were also caught up in the gaffe.

They had been enjoying a break in the area when their two vehicles also became affected by the incident.

They had travelled to the area from the Liverpool area and had been staying at a holiday cottage at Westerlix.

They said: “We had come in two cars because I needed to work on Tuesday, August 27, so was planning to travel home late on the 26th. My wife, daughter and sister in law were planning to enjoy a last day in the area and return on the 29th.

“We filled both cars at the same time on the morning of Monday, August 26.

READ MORE: Friend of tragic Claire Inglis takes on massive Munro challenge to raise funds for women's aid charity

READ MORE: Stirling school pupils given lessons on the dangers of sextortion scams

“The car I was to travel home in failed to start on Monday evening. Given the time we decided to wait until the next day to seek help. The RAC were called at 8am and arrived around lunchtime.

“We had no food in the cottage. The holiday was all but over and we had planned to eat out from that point. My wife and her sister tried to use the other vehicle to get supplies, and discovered it was also unable to start. We were stranded with no food in a place where deliveries were not possible.”

A roadside assistance firm confirmed that the vehicles contained contaminated fuel, thought not to be diesel, but instead to be some other chemical additive.

The repair to the fuel tanks on the two vehicles cost £320.

The Stirling Observer had contacted Certas Energy Ltd for information on the outcome of its investigation in to the contamination and how impacted drivers can claim compensation.

Certas Energy Ltd had not responded to our request for comment at the time of print.