No fuel for forecourts as tankers' strike begins

A four-day strike by hundreds of petrol tanker drivers will go ahead today after talks to avert a dispute over pay broke down .

One in ten of Britain's forecourts will go without deliveries until next week prompting fears of widespread panic buying leading to queues and closures.

The failure of negotiations will come as a blow to Gordon Brown who yesterday insisted a deal was within reach. The Prime Minister said the Government was willing to do "everything we can" to stop petrol pumps running dry.

Officials from the Unite union and managers from two firms which deliver fuel to Shell garages held more than 19 hours of talks trying to broker a deal.

Hoyer and Suckling Transport, the two companies involved in the dispute, said they had put two offers to the union which would take drivers earnings to around £41,500 by 2009. A spokesman said: "We offered a substantial amount to the drivers. We extended our offer to the very limits that our business could sustain. We are disappointed that our improved offers have been rejected. Unfortunately, it looks likely now that there will be a damaging and costly strike." Shell, which has angered unions by refusing to get involved in talks, said the action would have a "significant impact" on forecourts. "Our primary concern is for motorists who may suffer inconvenience as a result of Unite's imminent industrial action," a spokesman said.

Len McCluskey, assistant general secretary of Unite, said he was "extremely disappointed" the talks had broken down. "This dispute could have been resolved if Shell had advanced a fraction of the billions of pounds in profit they make every month," he said.

"One of the world's richest companies is prepared to play Pontius Pilate and see the British public inconvenienced rather than settle this dispute for a sum smaller than the chairman's pay increase last year."

Mr McCluskey said he expected Shell garages will start to run out of petrol "almost immediately" and all 1,000 forecourts will be affected within 24 hours. The drivers will picket around 14 oil terminals across the country during the strike.

How to use less petrol

*Air conditioning adds about 5 per cent to your fuel consumption, so turn it off and boil.

*Dump the excess baggage. More weight equals more fuel.

*Check you tyre pressure. It can make your car safer, more comfortable and cheaper to run.

*Grow up. Lay off the accelerator and cut down on the gear changes. Relax.

*Turn the engine off if you're at a standstill for more than 10 seconds.

*Change a lifetime habit by asking for directions or get a sat nav to stop wasting fuel by getting lost.