Welsh fuel blockades over

Protesters are beginning to leave the Stanlow site

All protesters at fuel blockades in Wales have called off their action, but problems in Wales are still deepening with some schools closing and further service cutbacks expected.

Making the announcement at 0520 BST, protest spokesman and north Wales farmer Brynle Williams said the demonstrators were "backing down in the interests of the general public".

Protest leader Brynle Williams

"We have won a moral and just victory," he said. He thanked the public for their "fantastic support".

The announcement came 12 hours after Prime Minister Tony Blair and Welsh Health Minister Jane Hutt warned that lives were being put at risk by the continuing protests over fuel prices.

Tankers have begun to leave the major refineries to bring desperately needed fuel to the nation's petrol pumps.

Protesters at the Texaco distribution depot in Cardiff have also ended their demonstration and following a meeting on Thursday morning, groups outside the Texaco and Elf oil refineries in Pembrokeshire, agreed break up at 1100BST.

Protests latest

Stanlow: Off

Cardiff: Off

Manchester: Continues

Jarrow: Continues

Norfolk: Continues

Pembrokeshire: Off

Grangemouth: Off

Avonmouth: Off

Plymouth: Off

Ipswich: Expected to end

Kingsbury: Meeting to decide

On Wednesday, Assembly First Secretary Rhodri Morgan issued a direct appeal the protesters to go home, warning of serious consequences otherwise.

He warned of the "massive" impact a continuing protest would have on Welsh industry by the end of the week .

As protesters packed up to go home in Stanlow, Cheshire, routine surgery remained cancelled in many hospitals around Wales - disappointing hundreds of patients, many of whom have waited months or years for appointments.

Click here for a list of designated filling stations and fuel depots from the DTI

It is thought forecourts would remain dry for some time.

The crisis has already spread to the classroom, with at least 20 schools across Wales are closed.

Difficulties in getting both pupils and teachers to schools have forced Rhondda Cynon Taff education authority to direct nearly all of its secondary schools to close until further notice.

And Powys council has said it may be forced to introduce winter-style measures where teachers go to the school nearest their home.

Three Welsh authorities - Vale of Glamorgan, Anglesey and Monmouthshire - have also announced the refuse collections will stop.

For full details of service cutbacks in Wales click here.