A mum has spoken of her anger and frustration after struggling to get her children to school after vandals pierced the fuel tank of her car.

Anita Forster, who lives in Gunn Road, Swanscombe, awoke to find her blue Volkswagen had been targeted.

"Someone has pierced my fuel tank to steal my fuel," said the 41-year-old. "I have no vehicle and one of the children can't get to school."

Anita was told by neighbours "three hooded and masked youths" were spotted hanging around the block of flats with a jerry can around 11.40pm on Saturday night.

But they reportedly became "spooked" and fled before police were alerted.

However, the damage they caused meant Anita was left without any transport to get her children – Jack, 13, Bethany, 11, and Scott, nine – to their different schools in Dartford yesterday.

The mum-of-four, who also has a three-year-old son attending nursery and frequently relies on food banks, says she cannot afford the costs for repairs.

"I'm being quoted £300 for repairs," she said. "I'm a single mum with four kids. I can't afford that."

Anita added: "It has really affected me. That car is my lifeline I rely it on it to get my kids to school and to go food shopping.

"I can walk to the shops if I need bits but I need a proper food shop. It is just wrong."

Anita has been offered the use of her brother's vehicle but he has been unable to get any fuel amid the ongoing panic-buying crisis.

And it appears the mum has not been the only one targeted with additional reports of fuel-related crimes on a Facebook group for the area.

A resident posted: "I’d just like to say, to the person/people that drilled into my fuel tank and cut my fuel lines to get my petrol out my car - I hope the minuscule amount you got, as my car was pretty much empty, was worth it.

"Let's hope nothing like this happens to you in the future."

Police say inquiries into the theft are continuing.

It comes after a fourth day of frenzied panic buying left many unable to get to work yesterday as various petrol stations up and down the county again ran dry.

Angry motorists took to social media to vent their frustration at the queues which have seen roads gridlocked and altercations at the pumps, such as one in Welling caught on camera yesterday.

It prompted the government to suspend competition laws and put the military on standby.

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford