Motorists angry as car problems shut Asda petrol station pumps

Some motorists are angry after they said their cars developed problems after refuelling at an Asda petrol station.

Sandra Reid is among the people who have reported issues with their vehicles after buying fuel from the same Asda-owned forecourt.

She said her car started to "chug along and struggle to accelerate" and eventually broke down, after leaving the filling station.

Asda has apologised for any inconvenience and removed some pumps from service at the site in question while an investigation is carried out.

Reid said she noticed issues with the car shortly after topping up at the garage in Coleraine, County Londonderry, in Northern Ireland.

"I eventually managed to get the car started again and it again was struggling, but I nursed it to a car park in Long Commons area of Coleraine and there it has stayed ever since," she told BBC News NI.

"It's a paid car park so I have had to top up the parking app for four days now just to keep my car there until I can get someone out to look at it.

"I think I am down about £20 already on parking as I can't move the car."

Reid said not being able to use her car has been a "disaster", especially as she usually uses it to get to and from work, which is a 45-minute walk away.

Reid added that to get the fuel removed from the vehicle, it could cost more than £500.

It is not yet known what may have caused the reported vehicle problems or just how many cars are affected.

Asda said the "isolated incident" affected some - but not all - fuel purchases made at the Coleraine site between 25 and 29 October.

"We're working with customers who may have been affected and asking anyone experiencing issues with their vehicle following a purchase during this timeframe to contact us so we can put things right," a spokesperson said.

"We've safely reopened the majority of pumps following a full investigation, while some remain out of use as we work to resolve the issue."

Dean Law said two cars belonging to his girlfriend Courteney and sister Emma broke down after they had filled up at the petrol station.

He said he and his girlfriend had now spent about £1,000 on mechanic bills after her car broke down on Monday when she was driving to work.

"She told me the car felt different and started to vibrate when she was driving, but she managed to get it to work.

"After work, she then went out and tried to start the car and it wouldn't move."

"It was only after we spoke to my sister, who had also filled up her car at the same petrol station on Sunday and whose car had also broken down, that we eventually realised the issue could be linked to the fuel," he said.

"I actually put up a Facebook post asking if anyone else had experienced the issues that we had and I couldn't believe the response.

"So many people started commenting and messaging me about it, so it seems to have impacted a number of people."

Law said the car was bought a year ago and that it was really frustrating to have to spend so much money on it.

David Jardine, from Belfast, said he was on a family holiday on the north coast at the weekend and filled up his car at the petrol station on Sunday night and broke down shortly afterwards in Portstewart.

"We were just heading up for a few days and filled up at Asda and I remember turning to my son in the car and saying the car doesn't feel right," he said.

"It was like jumping a bit and sounded strange.

"We got to Portstewart where we were staying and the car just completely died on us."

Jardine said his partner and two sons were fortunate that they had another vehicle to rely on during their stay.

"Thankfully my other son was driving his car up as he wanted to go off and meet up with his friends and we had two cars, but a lot of the plans we had were obviously impacted because we were down to the one car."

He said his car had to get towed back to Belfast and cost about £225 to fix.

East Londonderry assembly member Claire Sugden said she had received a number of messages from constituents at the beginning of the week who had raised concerns after filling up their cars at the petrol station.

"One constituent had fuelled up and then, the following day, his car wouldn't start and he then took it to a mechanic, and it is still there. He is now without a car so it is concerning," Sugden said.

"He had seen on social media that others had experienced similar issues after filing up at this station so it seems to be a pattern which has seen Asda conduct an investigation."

Sugden said anyone who may have filled up their cars at the petrol station should be made aware of any potential issue.

"It is pleasing that Asda have responded quickly in relation to this, but it is important that other people who have fuelled up at this station are made aware that this issue could potentially affect them too."