Thousands of British tourists face holiday chaos as one dies in Spanish truckers' strike

The strikes by lorry drivers spread across the border into Portugal where there was a further death.

Holidaymakers heading for the region were warned supplies of fresh food were running low in shops and restaurants, and many petrols stations had run dry.

Cornered: A riot policeman is attacked in Almeria, Spain

Flashpoint: A burned truck during a transport strike in Azamabuja, north of Lisbon

Spain got tough with the truckers as the strike went into a third day, deploying riot police to lift blockades at a border crossing with France and on a major highway outside Madrid, making scores of arrests.

But unions vowed to fight on, rejecting measures presented by the government to end the nationwide protests.

One striker died when a van drove through a picket line, and a protester died in a similar incident in neighboring Portugal.

Lisbon's main airport has run out of fuel because of the strike, causing flight delays but no cancellations.

Gridlock: Truckers in Spain, France and Portugal stepped up protests against rising fuel prices

Strikers apparently tried to burn one lorry driver alive in his cab as the violence in Spain escalated.

The man, accused of strike-breaking, was taken to hospital with serious burns in San Isidro, near Alicante.

One of the Spanish industries hit hardest by the strike - car manufacturing - warned that its daily production of 13,000 vehicles could grind to a halt because parts are not reaching factories.

The strike is being waged by self-employed truckers, who represent about 20 per cent of Spain's lorry drivers. They want a minimum, guaranteed rate for their services. The government refuses.

Spanish fishermen have been on strike since May 30, also over fuel costs, and this is compounding problems of supplies reaching consumers.

Supermarkets, smaller stores, bars and restaurants have been unable to restock essentials. There have already been protests in Brussels by fishermen over fuel costs.

French lorry drivers have begun protests, with militants urging them to step up action.

There have also been protests linked to fuel costs in Thailand and South Korea.

Shortages: Women walk past empty meat shelves in a supermarket during a transport strike in Aranjuez, near Madrid