Protesters have threatened to return to refineries across the UK if the Government does not bring down tax on fuel.

Fuel Lobby spokesman Andrew Spence said blockades would start from next Wednesday if cuts are not made.

The lobby says it is prepared to re-create the week-long protests of September 2000 which caused shortages and panic buying at the pumps.

UK petrol and diesel prices are still rising in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in the US, with the average cost of petrol now at 95.1 pence a litre.