Tanker drivers' pay talks resume

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More than 600 drivers at two haulage firms which deliver fuel to Shell garages walked out on Friday morning and are not due to return to work until 6am on Tuesday.

But officials from the Unite union maintained informal contact with managers from the two firms - Hoyer and Suckling - and the two sides have met at a secret location.

It is highly unusual for negotiations to be held while industrial action is still taking place so the development has raised hopes the deadlock in the row over pay can be broken.

The union has warned there will be another strike next weekend if the dispute is not resolved.

Hoyer and Suckling said they were pleased that talks were restarting.

The Government and Shell also welcomed the news that fresh talks will be held.

Business Secretary John Hutton said: "This is an encouraging step forward. I hope it is possible for the two sides to reach an agreement so as to avoid any repetition of this weekend's disruption.

"Although the strike has inconvenienced motorists they have shown commendable common-sense and restraint which has minimised its harmful impact."

Shell said it believed around 8% of all petrol stations in Britain were hit by shortages of one or more fuel grades over the weekend because of the strike.