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Around 200 soldiers, half of them drivers, are being used in an effort to ease the shortage.
The problem has been blamed on a shortage of delivery drivers rather than petrol.
Soldiers have spent the last few days training for their new role, many with logistics company Hoyer in Hertfordshire.
David Charman, who runs the 3000 sq ft Spar forecourt at West Malling, Kent, is among those who has seen the soldiers coming to his site with Hoyer for training in the last few days.
It is the south east of England that appears to still have significant delivery challenges.
The Petrol Retailers Association says that problems are virtually over in Scotland, Wales, the north of England and the Midlands, but that in London and the south east, 22% of pumps are dry.
