Oil tanker drivers have gone on strike in a row over pay sparking fears of weekend petrol shortages.

Around 1,000 Shell forecourts are likely to be affected by the strike which is going ahead after last-minute talks to try to resolve the dispute broke down.

Motorists in some parts of the country have already started stocking up on fuel, with some admitting they were topping up half-full petrol tanks even though this could lead to shortages.

The Shell drivers are refusing to accept a 7 per cent pay raise while their bosses are getting between 15 and 28 per cent.

They are mounting picket lines at a number of Shell sites based at oil terminals including Stanlow in Merseyside, Avonmouth, Plymouth, Pembroke, Cardiff, Kingsbury, Basildon, Grangemouth, Aberdeen, Inverness, Jarrow and a small site at Luton Airport.

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

Union leaders warned fuel would start to run out "almost immediately" and all Shell's forecourts would be affected within 24 hours.

Business Secretary John Hutton said it was "extremely disappointing" that the talks had broken down and he urged both sides to resume negotiations.

He said: "The strike, which will have a disproportionate effect on people in Britain, cannot be justified. We have been working closely with industry to put in place detailed contingency plans to reduce as far as possible the disruption for the driving public.

"Our advice to motorists now is just to buy the fuel they actually need."

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