Britain began the slow haul back to normality last night, as demonstrators called off their blockades claiming a moral victory over the government, and demanding a fuel cut within 60 days.
As news of the protests' collapse poured in from across the country, an emergency meeting of the cabinet sanctioned the use of army, navy and air force tankers to speed the distribution of supplies to designated emergency services throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
Against a charge from Mr William Hague that the Health Secretary had engaged in "scaremongering", the Prime Minister, Mr Blair, admitted there was still some way to go to the end of the fuel crisis, and insisted: "Lives have been and are still at risk."
Mr Blair - reeling from the greatest challenge to his government's authority since it took power - also appointed the Home Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, to lead a special task force to consider how the country's precious fuel supplies should best be safeguarded in the future.
There was confusion about the price of fuel last night, as the oil giant Esso reversed an earlier announcement that it was raising the price of diesel and unleaded petrol. Motoring organisations and ministers alike had condemned the threatened sting-in-the-tail for motorists as the blockades which had threatened to bring Britain to a standstill came to an end.
With an estimated 300 petrol stations expected to have been supplied by the end of the day, oil companies said at least 20 per cent of the national network would be restored within 48 hours. However, the Petrol Retailers' Association warned it could be at least two weeks before forecourt supplies returned to normal.
"They are filling up but as soon as they get fuel they are being emptied again," explained a spokesman for the Petrol Retailers' Association. "The petrol is not even touching the sides of the tanks. That's why it will take two to three weeks for things to get back to normal. Remember, we also have to keep emergency services on the road."
The cabinet met in Downing Street yesterday morning as the collapse of the protest at the Stanlow refinery in Cheshire triggered a chain reaction across the country.
Amid scenes of celebration, Mr Brynle Williams - widely regarded as the architect of the nationwide protest - called for a price cut within 60 days, declaring: "We have won a moral victory and a just victory. I hope the government is going to respond with honour and integrity."
Petrol companies in Britain last night dropped their prices following accusations of profiteering. Esso said it was scrapping petrol price rises and would reduce them to the level before Tuesday's increase of 2p per litre on diesel.
Jet followed suit, with parent company Conoco saying it was to abandon planned price-rises at its 200 company-tun forecourts.
TotalFinaElf said it was reversing fuel price increases it brought in at its 1,400 outlets last week.
Sainsbury's also said it was lowering prices, dropping the cost of unleaded 2p and diesel 6p. BP and Shell rules out price rises, while Texaco said there had been no increase in the cost of its fuel.