Joanna Termets Barrell, a carer in the community, went to Morrisons petrol station in Newquay, Cornwall, yesterday morning ahead of her 12-hour shift, which she says is the only petrol station open within 10 miles.

       Joanna said the petrol station was coned off and a Morrisons garage worker told her fuel at that time was only for emergency workers.

       She was furious and had to leave without filling up her car to start work at 7am.

       Ms Termets Barrell told CornwallLive: “I am absolutely fuming, Sunday morning at 6.30 and I am turned away from the only petrol station in Newquay open, the next nearest 10 miles away, because as a carer in the community I am not classed as an emergency worker.

       “This is not funny. How are people's loved ones supposed to be hoisted out of bed to go to the toilet, get washed, fed, medications given, dressed?

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       “How can we not be classed as important? How did we not have this problem a year ago?”

       Ms Termets Barrell, who has worked with Bluebird Care for over a year, added: “We are already struggling with staff easily working 60 hours some weeks.