Petrol forecourts could close WITHIN DAYS over pay dispute

Some 650 drivers are reportedly planning to walkout - meaning tens of thousands of motorists could be stranded without fuel.

The planned strikes come just weeks after the Grangemouth refinery dispute, which caused forecourts to close in the North.

This latest dispute could affect 1,000 forecourts, as well as several hundred industrial outlets.

Shell petrol stations may shut over latest pay dispute

The drivers, who supply the vast majority of Shell forecourts, are protesting about pay.

They are calling for a pay rise of 13 per cent but their company, Hoyer UK - contractors for Shell - has only offered six per cent.

Last week, drivers voted overwhelmingly for a strike although a last-minute meeting to resolve the dispute is scheduled for tomorrow.

If the walkout goes ahead, it will heap further pressure on motorists, already disgruntled about the rising cost of petrol.

The union Unite, which represents the drivers, said its members had the capacity to seriously disrupt supply of petrol.

There is also the threat of secondary picketing which means other petrol stations could be affected.

Hoyer's drivers work out of terminals across mainland Britain delivering to petrol stations and other outlets.