Last-ditch talks aimed at averting a strike by fuel tanker drivers have broken down, the Unite union said.

Drivers employed by Hoyer & Suckling are due to walk out for four days from 6am on Friday in a dispute over pay.

Hoyer and Suckling Transport, the two firms involved in the dispute, said they had put two offers to the union - an increase for this year of 7.3 per cent backdated to January 1, 2008, which would take average earnings to over £39,000, with a further 6 per cent increase from January 1, 2009, which would take earnings to around £41,500.

The firms said they asked the union to suspend the strike and put the offers to a ballot of the workers but accused Unite of refusing.

Spokesman Bernie Holloway said: "We offered a substantial amount to the drivers. We extended our offer to the very limits that our business could sustain. We are disappointed that our improved offers have been rejected. Unfortunately, it looks likely now that there will be a damaging and costly strike."

One in ten of Britain's 9,500 filling stations will be affected by the action.

A spokesman for Shell said: "Shell is not involved in the pay negotiations between the haulage companies and the union. We urge both parties to continue talking to find a resolution.

"Our primary concern is for motorists who may suffer inconvenience as a result of Unite's imminent industrial action.

"If the industrial action goes ahead, regrettably, it is inevitable that it will have a significant impact on our petrol stations.

"In the meantime, we have teams of people working to ensure contingency plans are in place and disruption to our customers is minimised as much as possible."

The Government has also planned ahead, and will be allowing suppliers to share information about stocks without falling foul of competition laws.

Car drivers in some parts of the country have started to panic-buy fuel despite pleas from the Government and the oil and transport industries to fill up as normal.

Earlier, Prime Minister Gordon Brown refused to rule out calling in the Army to keep fuel flowing - warning that the Government is willing to do "everything we can" to stop petrol pumps running dry.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.