fuel gauge is zero when i put fuel in yesterday?

put a 10er worth of petrol in my escort 16v 1997.when i turnthe key my fuel gauge goes up to quarter ofa tank then when i start the engine the gauge drops well below the red and the car will run for a min or2 irractly i pressed the fuel pump switch it was weged down so i popped it up and pressed it a few times. the car acts like its out of petrol im gonna stick another 5 er inpetrol can and see what happens can anybody help please