Wales still facing fuel shortages

Protesters decided to leave the Stanlow site

With most of the fuel blockades in Wales at an end, warnings remain that the situation could get worse before it gets better.

Blockade protesters in south and west Wales had begun to join the departure of the Stanlow refinery campaigners until news came of further fuel price rises.

Hauliers protesting at the Texaco and Elf refineries at Pembroke and Milford Haven were reported to be furious at the latest increases.

At least one major oil company confirmed price rises of two pence a litre for unleaded, and four pence a litre for diesel.

Angry motorists queueing for hours at one garage in Wrexham discovered the price of unleaded petrol had been hiked up to £1.99 a litre.

West Wales protest spokesman Mike Greene said a vote was being taken among blockaders about whether to resume their action - two hours after calling it off.

Protest leader Brynle Williams

Problems as a result of the petrol price protest in Wales remain as bad as ever with some schools closing and further service cutbacks expected.

Just after 0500BST on Thursday, protest spokesman and north Wales farmer Brynle Williams said the demonstrators were "backing down in the interests of the general public".

'Too late'

"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.

Assembly secretary Sue Essex added that services were likely to deteriorate still further.

"It is clear now that the withdrawal (of blockades) has come too late for a number of key services and there will be a further deterioration over the next three days."

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

But they are now believed to be considering re-imposing their blockade after garages raised prices as their first supplies arrived on the forecourt.

As protesters meet to discuss their next move, 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 that refuse collections will stop.

For full details of service cutbacks in Wales click here.