This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7454149.stm

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Fuel strike begins to hit supply Fuel strike begins to hit supply
(10 minutes later)
A strike by hundreds of Shell tanker drivers has begun to hit fuel supplies in parts of England and Scotland.A strike by hundreds of Shell tanker drivers has begun to hit fuel supplies in parts of England and Scotland.
Demand was up 25% entering the strike's second day, although only just over 1% of petrol stations have closed because of shortages, the government says.Demand was up 25% entering the strike's second day, although only just over 1% of petrol stations have closed because of shortages, the government says.
BBC News website readers have reported supply problems in Leicester, Cambridge, the Wirral, Cornwall, Stoke-on-Trent and parts of Scotland.BBC News website readers have reported supply problems in Leicester, Cambridge, the Wirral, Cornwall, Stoke-on-Trent and parts of Scotland.
Go-slow fuel protests have taken place on the M6, M56 and in the New Forest.Go-slow fuel protests have taken place on the M6, M56 and in the New Forest.
During the day of action over fuel, 100 vehicles set off on the M6 under police escort from Lymm Services at Warrington, Cheshire, to Carnforth in Lancashire, as part of separate demonstrations over rising prices.During the day of action over fuel, 100 vehicles set off on the M6 under police escort from Lymm Services at Warrington, Cheshire, to Carnforth in Lancashire, as part of separate demonstrations over rising prices.
A further 50 vehicles departed from north Wales along the A55 and the M56 towards Shell's Stanlow oil refinery in Cheshire.A further 50 vehicles departed from north Wales along the A55 and the M56 towards Shell's Stanlow oil refinery in Cheshire.
Outside of Merseyside, mid-Berkshire and some places on the south coast and south-west of England...it's actually been busy but not anywhere near what we'll call panic buying Ray HollowayPetrol Retailers' Association Lorry convoy in M6 fuel protestTractors in fuel protest go-slowSend us your comments It's actually been busy but not anywhere near what we'll call panic buying Ray HollowayPetrol Retailers' Association Lorry convoy in M6 fuel protestTractors in fuel protest go-slowSend us your comments
In the south of the country, a convoy of farmers and lorry drivers at Stoney Cross in Hampshire also crawled towards junction 1 of the M27.In the south of the country, a convoy of farmers and lorry drivers at Stoney Cross in Hampshire also crawled towards junction 1 of the M27.
Shell earlier said that, although its sales remained high on the second day of the strike, they were not at extreme levels. It also said there was no evidence of panic buying, with only a "handful" of stations actually running out.Shell earlier said that, although its sales remained high on the second day of the strike, they were not at extreme levels. It also said there was no evidence of panic buying, with only a "handful" of stations actually running out.
The company added that its contingency plans had so far worked well, but warned that the situation may change over the next two days.The company added that its contingency plans had so far worked well, but warned that the situation may change over the next two days.
Shell drivers have warned their employers they may strike again next weekend.Shell drivers have warned their employers they may strike again next weekend.
A spokesman for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform confirmed demand for fuel at forecourts had gone up by 25% between Friday and Saturday lunchtimes and supply was tightest in south west and north west England and central Scotland.A spokesman for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform confirmed demand for fuel at forecourts had gone up by 25% between Friday and Saturday lunchtimes and supply was tightest in south west and north west England and central Scotland.
At noon on Saturday, some 112 out of 8,900 petrol stations - just over 1% - had been forced to close, he added.At noon on Saturday, some 112 out of 8,900 petrol stations - just over 1% - had been forced to close, he added.
Diesel problemsDiesel problems
A number of petrol stations in the Strathspey area of Scotland, along the A9, are reporting that they have run out of diesel.A number of petrol stations in the Strathspey area of Scotland, along the A9, are reporting that they have run out of diesel.
In particular, garages in Aviemore and Newtonmore have run out and one site has started rationing. One service station manager in Ayr has also reported he has run out of diesel.In particular, garages in Aviemore and Newtonmore have run out and one site has started rationing. One service station manager in Ayr has also reported he has run out of diesel.
On the picket line: Drivers are looking for higher payOn the picket line: Drivers are looking for higher pay
A number of sites in Glasgow report that trade is brisk - but so far shortages are limited.A number of sites in Glasgow report that trade is brisk - but so far shortages are limited.
Members of the public have e-mailed the BBC News website to report fuel queues and some stations running out, in such areas as Leicester, Cambridge and the Wirral.Members of the public have e-mailed the BBC News website to report fuel queues and some stations running out, in such areas as Leicester, Cambridge and the Wirral.
There were also shortages reported in St Austell, Cornwall, and in Stoke-on-Trent.There were also shortages reported in St Austell, Cornwall, and in Stoke-on-Trent.
The Tesco station in Gowerton, near Swansea, has run out, but many stations in the south Wales area say they are currently well stocked.The Tesco station in Gowerton, near Swansea, has run out, but many stations in the south Wales area say they are currently well stocked.
However, major retailers have told the BBC that their deliveries have so far been largely unaffected:
  • Sainsbury's said its Friday morning deliveries had not been disrupted and confirmed it had a good supply of fuel.
  • Texaco said it had seen a slight increase in fuel sales but that none of its forecourts had reported running out of supplies.
  • BP said it still had good stocks of fuel and that most of its drivers were working as normal.
  • Esso said its terminals were open and drivers were leaving to deliver fuel "as normal". It also said that its customers were currently buying fuel in normal amounts.
However, major retailers have told the BBC that their deliveries have so far been largely unaffected:
  • Sainsbury's said its Friday morning deliveries had not been disrupted and confirmed it had a good supply of fuel.
  • Texaco said it had seen a slight increase in fuel sales but that none of its forecourts had reported running out of supplies.
  • BP said it still had good stocks of fuel and that most of its drivers were working as normal.
  • Esso said its terminals were open and drivers were leaving to deliver fuel "as normal". It also said that its customers were currently buying fuel in normal amounts.
Nick Vandervell, from the UK Petroleum Industry Association which represents Shell and the other major petrol suppliers, told BBC Five Live that some service stations had run out of fuel, but the situation was patchy.Nick Vandervell, from the UK Petroleum Industry Association which represents Shell and the other major petrol suppliers, told BBC Five Live that some service stations had run out of fuel, but the situation was patchy.
The scene at Kingsbury oil depotThe scene at Kingsbury oil depot
"We have had reports that locally there are some problems, but essentially what our members' companies will be doing is working over the weekend to try and make sure that those sites are re-supplied and in some cases that may well involve re-supply from terminals or depots where there isn't picketing action.""We have had reports that locally there are some problems, but essentially what our members' companies will be doing is working over the weekend to try and make sure that those sites are re-supplied and in some cases that may well involve re-supply from terminals or depots where there isn't picketing action."
But Ray Holloway, of the Petrol Retailers' Association, told the BBC the situation was under control.But Ray Holloway, of the Petrol Retailers' Association, told the BBC the situation was under control.
"Outside of Merseyside, mid-Berkshire and some places on the south coast and south-west of England, generally speaking it's actually been busy but not anywhere near what we'll call panic buying," he said."Outside of Merseyside, mid-Berkshire and some places on the south coast and south-west of England, generally speaking it's actually been busy but not anywhere near what we'll call panic buying," he said.
Pay talksPay talks
Shell runs one in 10 of the country's fuel stations, but industry sources suggest its market share could be up to 17%.Shell runs one in 10 of the country's fuel stations, but industry sources suggest its market share could be up to 17%.
The striking drivers work for two companies, Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, who are contracted to deliver fuel to those Shell forecourts.The striking drivers work for two companies, Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, who are contracted to deliver fuel to those Shell forecourts.
Shell UK boss James Smith on the strikeShell UK boss James Smith on the strike
The industrial action began when pay talks broke down earlier this week.The industrial action began when pay talks broke down earlier this week.
Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, say unions rejected a pay offer which would take the drivers' average salary to £41,500 by January 2009.Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, say unions rejected a pay offer which would take the drivers' average salary to £41,500 by January 2009.
But a Unite union spokesman argued that the company's offer would have increased salaries from just under £32,000 to £36,000. He said the companies' £41,500 figure could only be reached if possible overtime was included.But a Unite union spokesman argued that the company's offer would have increased salaries from just under £32,000 to £36,000. He said the companies' £41,500 figure could only be reached if possible overtime was included.
The union representing them has renewed its calls for Shell, who outsourced tanker deliveries to external firms, to get involved in the negotiations to try and resolve the dispute.The union representing them has renewed its calls for Shell, who outsourced tanker deliveries to external firms, to get involved in the negotiations to try and resolve the dispute.
A number of tanker drivers working for other petrol retailers have refused to cross the picket lines at oil depots.A number of tanker drivers working for other petrol retailers have refused to cross the picket lines at oil depots.