'We'll be back', fuel protesters vow

Protests in September triggered fuel shortages

Fuel protesters who picketed two oil refineries in west Wales have vowed they will return - and their next move would have an element of 'suprise'.

John Pratt, who was at the demonstration at the Texaco refinery in Pembroke Dock, said: "We only did it as a short, sharp, shock treatment. We decided to go in for three to six hours and then pull out.

"When we do decide to do something it will be something completely different. The element of surprise was what caught them out in the original protest."

Twenty protesters spent the night outside the Texaco refinery in Pembroke Dock and a further 10 picketed the nearby Elf plant at Milford Haven.

Protesters from Wales and England have warned the halt was only temporary and that they would hold meetings to plant their next move.

David Handley says protests are officially back on

Haulier Mike Green, from Cross Hands, said: "We have proved our point. It's time for the government to get its thinking cap on, or we'll be back before the General Election and will bring this country to a standstill."

Mr Green said further protests were likely unless the government promised further action to reduce the tax on fuel.

Monmouthshire farmer David Handley, of Farmers For Action, said protesters wanted to get fuel prices reduced in line with the drop in the world price of fuel.

North Wales farmer Brynle Williams, who spearheaded the original action in September, urged campaigners to wait until March or April, nearer the general election, before taking further action.

Farmers for Action

Mr Williams added that he was still waiting for a promised meeting with ministers to discuss the issue of fuel taxation.

"I will not rule out any direct action if the government doesn't respond to the tax element soon."

Farmers, hauliers and coach operators gathered at demonstrations in Cumbria, Tyneside and Hampshire on Friday.

Demonstrators, including the Farmers for Action group, blockaded the BP depot at Dalston in Cumbria, and took up positions at the Shell Depot in Ulverston, the Texaco site in Workington, and the Askham Oils base in Carlisle.

A protest of 30 demonstrators at a refinery at Trafford Park in Manchester ended at 1020GMT on Friday.

Brynle Williams: Time not right for action

Protesters have accused fuel retailers of "ripping off" consumers after a 1p cut in the price of petrol, announced on Wednesday by many leading retailers following a rapid fall in crude oil prices.

The reduction has put pressure on other oil giants, including BP, Esso, Texaco and TotalFinaElf, who are holding back from announcing cuts, while insisting prices would remain "competitive".

Shell UK head of retail Ian Sutcliffe argued that the petrol companies had limited room for manoeuvre in relation to prices.

"And at the end of the day we are still in a situation that nearly 80% of the pump price is tax and duty, so our latitude to move is not maybe as great as some people would think," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

Chancellor Gordon Brown has warned the companies that he is keeping a close watch on the prices they are charging at the petrol pumps.