Islanders who rely on deliveries of oil and fuel for heating, cooking, business and boats, may have to find new a new supplier, after it was revealed that Isle of Wight Fuels (IOWF) will shut on Friday August 7.

The firm owns and operates the Island’s only fuel and oil storage terminal - at its East Cowes base.

According to its website, it handles and stores around two weeks' supply.

The Isle of Wight County Press has been told that around sixteen people will lose their jobs with the closure of the firm that has been in business for sixty years.

Read more: Isle of Wight Fuels to close with loss of jobs - and some Island oil and fuel supplies

Among those taking in the shock news, has been the Isle of Wight Council.

It told the County Press it did not expect disruption to public services.

The local authority said: "We are working with the company to understand the situation and offer advice and assistance if appropriate and we do not anticipate any disruption to council or other public services, including emergency services.

"It is important to emphasise that a large proportion of the fuel sold at forecourts across the Island is already delivered direct by tanker from the mainland, with supermarkets in particular having their own supply arrangements."

Isle of Wight County Press:

Hovertravel said it has robust contingency plans to ensure its fuel supply.

The RNLI said its emergency teams at Cowes, Yarmouth and Bembridge were unaffected, but there was uncertainty about the organisation’s lifeboat centre in East Cowes.

Islanders who use the supplies at home may now need to find alternatives, however.

The Isle of Wight Council said: "Those who use Island Fuels for deliveries of heating oil and other fuels will still be able to arrange deliveries from the mainland, as other suppliers do already cover the Island."

Isle of Wight Fuels has not commented on the number of people affected by the closure.

A spokesman for Motor Fuel Group, its parent company said: “Following a detailed examination of the trading options of IOWF together with individual consultation with all members of staff, Motor Fuel Group announces that it is not viable for the business to continue to trade.

"Accordingly, and with regret, the IOWF business will close on Friday 7 August 2020.

"No fuel deliveries will be made or customer orders accepted after this date. We would like to thank our customers for their loyal patronage and our staff for their professional and dedicated service.”

East Cowes Councillor Karl Love said he was "incredibly concerned" about the impact the closure might have.

He told the County Press: "We should also not forget the loss of these skilled jobs, requiring lots of safety training in order to handle inflammable fuels."