People across Sussex were today banking on Tony Blair's bid to beat the blockade and end chaos caused by the petrol shortages.

Emergency measures were still being put in place last night by councils and health authorities, despite the Prime Minister's assurance the Government was doing all it could to bring the situation under control.

Panic buying at the pumps spilled over into supermarkets where shelves were cleared by shoppers fearing food shortages.

The Co-op supermarket at the Meridian Centre in Peacehaven rationed shoppers to three loaves of bread each but stocks had sold out by yesterday afternoon.

A spokesman said it was hoped a new delivery would arrive this morning.

Sales of bread and milk at the Asda store in Crowhurst Road, Brighton, were 50 per cent higher than usual.

St Annes Special School in Rotten Row, Lewes, was closed indefinitely after teachers feared pupils could be stranded because of the fuel crisis.

Acting head Ann Gidlow said: "Some of our teachers haven't got enough petrol to get to work and neither have supply staff."

"Many of our children live as far away as Crowborough and Eastbourne and rely on cars as well as public transport."

Ms Gidlow hopes the school, which has 92 pupils aged four to 16 with special needs, will reopen on Monday, but only if fuel supplies are replenished over the weekend.

Schools run by Brighton and Hove Council have not been affected by the crisis although buses which transport pupils were.

Today West and East Sussex Health Authorities stopped their ambulance car service for many outpatients needing non-urgent treatment, concentrating fuel supplies on transporting the sickest.

A West Sussex Health Authority spokesman said: "Staff are pooling their vehicles to get to work and at the moment there are no plans to cancel operations."

Senior care assistant Allyson Stringer, contracted to work for social services in the Horsham area said elderly people looked after in their homes were already suffering.

When her tank of petrol runs out, many frail pensioners in villages like Partridge Green, near Henfield, whom she visits to help them dress or prepare meals, could be isolated from care.

Meals-on-Wheels services issued an urgent appeal for volunteers to deliver essential food to the vulnerable, elderly and sick in Sussex.

Existing volunteer drivers are running out of fuel and the service desperately needs people with petrol. Volunteers should call Gill Horner on 01903 237790.

Community nurses working for South Downs NHS Trust have been forced to cancel visits to all but the most needy patients.

District nurses and health visitors were being encouraged to share cars or walk to visit patients.

An East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority spokesman said hospitals had not been affected but warned cuts in out-patient transport and community health visitors could have a knock-on effect.

East and West Sussex Fire Brigades have decided to suspend some non-emergency work but spokesmen for both services stressed they would be going out to all 999 calls.

Undertakers were worried bodies may be left in homes or hospitals. Some said their vehicles only had enough petrol and diesel to last for the next few days.

Driving school BSM had to take emergency action not used since the Suez Crisis in 1956. Priority is being given to people about to take their test.

Tony Breslin, of Hove-based Streamline Taxis, said about half of its 148 cars, running on unleaded petrol would be off the road within a couple of days. The rest, which run on diesel, will run out in about four days.

Many Sussex commuters left their cars at home and turned to the railways to beat the crisis - but depots supplying diesel to engines on the Uckfield-to-Oxted and Ashford-to-Hastings lines will run out of fuel in three days time.

Rebecca Rees, AA spokeswoman for Sussex, said: "We are urging people not to make non-essential journeys."

Energy firm Seeboard said work could eventually be cut to emergency jobs only, like power restorations, if shortages continue. A spokesman for Southern Water said some non-essential work would be curtailed.

In Hastings borough, building repairs have been scaled down to essential work only and refuse collections. Services are only being guaranteed until the start of next week.If a fuel delivery expected today fails, all grounds maintenance vehicles will be at a standstill.

A Wealden District Council spokesman said: "Priority will be given to emergency cesspool emptying and emergency building maintenance."

In Hastings nine public toilets have been closed because cleaners cannot get to them and road sweepers have been taken off the road.