HUNDREDS of local motorists who have been caught up in the contaminated fuel scandal will learn the results of Trading Standards tests later today (Friday).

Tests have been carried out on fuel in a storage depot in Essex which supplies supermarket giants such as Tesco and Morrisons.

Trading Standards this week launched an investigation into claims that drivers have been sold fuel contaminated with ethanol.

Drivers are being told to keep their fuel receipts and, if their vehicle is affected, contact their car dealer for advice.

Complaints in Watford have been linked to Tesco Extra in Waterfields Retail Park and Tesco Metro in Bushey.

Mark Peacock, service manager at Mercedes-Benz in Lower High Street, Watford, said 15 cars with fuel problems have come through his service department in the last four days.

"It's terrible," he said.

"The number of cars coming in is unbelievable - all of them have fuel that has been contaminated.

"Half of them came in after they refuelled at Tesco down the road.

"We don't know whether it is water or something else, but it is clear there is a problem."

The Renault dealership in Greenhill Crescent has seen more than 20 cases since last Friday; Citroen, in Caxton Way, has seen five on site and received numerous telephone calls, and Sky Ford, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, has had five repairs this week and several phone calls.

For full story about the local drivers affected by the fuel scandal see today's Watford Observer.