Truckers reject £41k deal

One in ten filling stations across the UK will be affected by the four-day tanker drivers' strike that started at 6am today, with union leaders predicting fuel supplies will run dry within 24 hours. However, the UK Petroleum Industry Association said that as long as drivers do not panic buy, fuel stocks will last until the strike ends on Tuesday morning. "If motorists observe their normal buying patterns, we won't run out of fuel," said a spokesman this morning. "We may experience some sites running dry, but it won't be a general problem."Should a majority of drivers decide to fill up at the same time, they could bring the country to a standstill. "We have plenty of fuel stocks available, but motorists have the ability to drain the system dry ­ there is a lot of capacity int heir cars," said the UKPIA spokesman. The government, too, has been asking drivers not to panic buy and has said it will do everything it can to keep fuel flowing, including bringing in the army if necessary. Around 500 drivers working for transport company contracted to Shell are striking over proposed pay increases. They had rejected an offer of up to £41,500, up from £32,000.