With the fuel strike underway the threat of fuel shortages at Shell petrol stations edges closer ahead of weekend travel.

The strike comes as it emerged this week that British motorists are shunning their cars as fuel prices head higher. The cost of a litre of petrol has increased rapidly from 92.8p in March 2007 to 106.8p in March 2008 and to almost 117p today.

Black Cab drivers queuing up outside Victoria coach station in London are particularly concerned that the strike by drivers supplying Shell stations, along with the existing jump in fuel prices, will crush their business over the summer.

Tanker drivers who supply Shell stations could bring choas to the roads
"I am worried about the fuel strike," said Tony Forwood, 48. "If there isn't any fuel, then I can't work. I have a wife and three kids to support.

"It seems silly telling everyone not to panic. As soon as someone says that everyone does panic. The whole business with fuel prices is getting out of hand.

I plan to put a little bit more than normal when I go to fill up later. I've noticed the queues are a little bit longer at the garages I've passed today and I think it will just escalate from here.

I find that it's costing me £25-30 now to fill up compared to £15-20 before. I have to work longer hours to make up for it, but the trade off is that I don't get to see my family as much.

advertisementThe trade is also reasonably quiet at the moment for this time of year which is probably down to what's going on with the economy and around the world.

I hope it will pick up but I am worried that this might be a tough summer, I think everybody in the business is."

At a Shell petrol station near the coach station, many motorists were filling up before the weekend. Petrol prices at the pump stood at 115.9p a litre for unleaded while diesel was 128.9p a litre. A poster of a news headline warned drivers 'don't waste a drop'.

Barry Wilks, 37, a cab driver who travels into the city from Kent, said he has been working an extra two to four hours a day to cover the higher cost of diesel.

"I work six days a week and it's costing me £50-75 now with fuel prices rising. I can't see prices coming down at the minute. People are still paying these prices and I think it will keep going up."

Many motorists were also waiting in line. However, most of them did not fear shortages and were instead preparing for weekend driving trips.

"I'm going to a wedding which is a fair way away and my tank is not quite half full," said Veronica Blonde. "I wasn't sure if I'd make it there and back so I thought I better fill up not in case I couldn't later."

London's Black Cabbies are worried there will be too many of them and not enough customers 
"Increasing petrol prices are not very good. I've been creeping around, trying not to use the car too much. I usually fill up once every three weeks. It's costing me £10 more now. I wouldn't be filling up today if I wasn't going away this weekend."

Michael Ramcharran is a self-employed chauffeur who has also been struggling with the higher petrol costs.

"I fill up my car every two to three days. I'm not worried too much about the strikes. I'm on the road all the time so it shouldn't be too difficult finding a petrol station that still has fuel. But the costs are worrying me. I'm spending £100 a more each month, about £500 now on petrol. I can't put my prices up to my customers to it's hurting my income."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/money/2008/06/13/bcnfuel113.xml