10:23pm UK, Monday September 12, 2005

Motorists have been told to keep calm amid a spate of panic-buying as fuel protesters threatened a week of blockades and go-slows.

Hour-long queues had started to mount up at forecourts in Yorkshire, the North East and parts of London, as retailers called for common sense at the pumps.

Drivers rush to petrol pumps

The surge in buying followed protesters warning of a week of misery on Britain's road.

Garage prices, some now well over a pound a litre, are likely to be forced higher because of disruption to the US oil industry caused by Hurricane Katrina.

In Britain, Chancellor Gordon Brown has blamed oil producing countries and called on them to increase
production and cut prices.

But critics say Mr Brown must make the first move by cutting fuel duty.

Campaigners from the Fuel Lobby have given the Government until Wednesday to meet them to discuss their grievances.

They are threatening to block all UK refineries for several days.

The South Wales Hauliers Association is reported to be planning a blockade of the M4, with the aim of bringing the motorway to a standstill.

The action may coincide with the anniversary of the blockades that hit the UK in 2000.

However, legislation introduced five years ago has given ministers and police significant new powers to deal with such demonstrations.