Don't panic ... and petrol will keep flowing

The Prime Minister's office gave warning that a crisis could be caused out of nothing if everyone filled up their car before the weekend.

"The most responsible thing the public could do is to continue to buy fuel as normal so as to avoid creating problems," said the spokesman.

There will be no shortages if everyone stays calm, he said, adding: "We believe this strike is unnecessary and we would want to ensure nothing done to affect that position."

About 500 tanker drivers are threatening to strike from Friday morning to support a 13 per cent pay demand, sparking fears that filling stations will run dry. Members of Unite union employed by two companies working on Shell contracts are due to walk out from 6am on Friday until 6am next Tuesday in the row, which could affect one in 10 UK filling stations.

Emergency contingency plans were being deployed - using measures drafted after the 1999 fuel protests caused severe disruption to Britain.

They include allowing oil giants to discuss privately their levels of reserves and distribution plans, something that would normally breach competition law but can be used to avert shortages at pinch points.

No 10's spokesman condemned the strike as unjustified and unfair, adding: "We encourage both sides to get back to the table.

"We do not believe that any strike action is justified because that would disproportionately impact on the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in the country not involved in this dispute."

The Government admitted some fuel stations will inevitably run dry.

And a spokesman for the Department for Business said: "If the strike were to affect other retailers, it would have a more significant impact."

But the message was not to panic at the sight of closed signs on a few forecourts because there was enough fuel to last until the end of the strike.

Talks to persuade the drivers to back down will be held at a secret location tomorrow.

Bernie Holloway, from Hoyer, the larger of the transport companies involved, said it was disappointing that Unite had rejected an improved offer last week "that would take the average drivers' pay up to around £39,000".

Unite said that offer, made last Thursday, was worth 6.8 per cent.