PEOPLE across South Lakeland and Furness were today attempting to pick up the pieces following a week of widespread disruption and panic.

Some garage owners were expecting fuel to start arriving at pumps today (Friday) and over the weekend, but warned rationing was likely, and that if motorists continued to panic buy, initial stocks would soon run dry.

With other petrol stations still waiting for news of deliveries, supplies are not expected to return to normal for two to three weeks.

Hospital bosses were meeting today to decide whether to resume non-urgent surgery for adults after cancelling approximately 80 operations this week.

Yesterday's announcement that one oil company had raised pump prices, causing some protesters to return to their pickets, had made hospital chiefs less optimistic.

NHS staff were also said to be disillusioned that years of hard work to cut waiting times and lists across Morecambe Bay had been badly hit by this week's cancellations.

Rationing of basic foods like bread and milk appeared to be easing at supermarkets across the district yesterday, while the tourist industry, which has been severely affected, was hopeful the large number of cancellations, which stretch into the weekend, would now abate.

County council chiefs said social care services like Meals on Wheels remained at risk of disruption, and urged people to be "good neighbours" this weekend and check on the elderly and vulnerable, who may be suffering because of the fuel shortage.

The authority has opened a telephone helpline on 01228-590242 for information on services including education, social services and Cumbria Care.

It will operate from 9am to 7pm daily, including the weekend.

Cumbria police urged drivers to continue showing tolerance and understanding, particularly if they see an emergency services vehicle going to the head of the queue for fuel.

The effects of the petrol crisis spread rapidly through the district this week, and many people in South Lakeland and Furness are counting the cost of the action.

From the first reports that lorry drivers and farmers were blockading refineries and depots nation-wide, anxiety spread among motorists.

The protesters, angry at the cost of fuel, and the government's refusal to reduce what they claimed were extortionate levels of tax, carried out pickets, blockades and go-slows across the country.

However, support for the protesters appeared to remain strong locally.

Truckers staged a three-day blockade of a fuel depot in Ulverston, and Kendal cabbies held a go-slow protest through the town, adding Cumbrian voices to the national action.

The tourism business has been badly hit this week, during what should have been its busiest time of year.

Cancellations totalling tens of thousands of pounds have compounded a poor summer season for many hoteliers.

The managing director of the well-known Langdale Chase Hotel which overlooks Windermere, Thomas Noblett, estimated that he would lose between £20,000 and £30,000.

"We are on their side but indirectly it's crippling us," he said of the protesters.

The police had to be called to a Kendal garage on Wednesday, where motorists became "agitated" when they were told a delivery of fuel was for emergency use only.

South Lakeland District Council staff were urged by their chief executive, Philip Cunliffe, to use car sharing and public transport, and he led the way on his bike.

The council's essential services operated normally.

Cumbria County Council managed to keep schools open and school transport running, although special schools at Witherslack, Cedar House at Kirkby Lonsdale, Lowgate at Levens, Bleasdale House in Silverdale and Wennington Hall, all shut yesterday and today.

Shops reported brisk trading all week with a rush on basic foodstuffs including bread and milk.

MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Collins demanded that the government listened to the protesters, and said small farmers and hauliers were acting out of "desperation".