A FAMILY was stuck at a Hampshire service station for three hours – because a petrol nozzle got stuck in their fuel tank.

The family of four had to call out Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service after trying for three hours to pull the fuel nozzle from the car at Sutton Scotney services.

The petrol station on the A34 was unable to help them and the family didn’t have breakdown cover for their Renault Espace.

As a last resort they called out Winchester Fire Station who came along and using tools were able to free the nozzle from the tank.

Crew manager Ewen Ross said they eventually got sent out and used tools to help them get free.

“The garage said they wouldn’t help because it the fault was with their car, not with their petrol pump,” he said.

“The AA said they’d have to pay a fee to join and they wouldn’t necessarily be able to do anything. As a last resort they called us.”

Mr Ross added that there wasn’t any risk to the petrol station, which they didn’t have to close.

“They were quite embarrassed about it, about having to call out the fire brigade,” he added.

“Someone at fire control obviously thought we could have helped.

"I don’t know what they would have done if we hadn’t gone out.”