British motorists were facing the prospect of fuel shortages last night as protesters pledged to continue blockades of refineries and depots around the country.
Long queues built up on forecourts in some areas and others were closed as drivers filled their tanks and deliveries failed to arrive.
Worst hit was the north-west of England and north Wales, where the blockade of the giant Stanlow Shell refinery in Cheshire since Thursday left filling stations dry.
Demonstrations by truckers and farmers brought chaos to the A1 in Northumbria and the main A55 coast road in North Wales.
Drivers last night left the A1 demonstration to stage a fresh blockade at the Shell UK terminal in Jarrow in Tyne and Wear.
During the day, hauliers and farmers escalated their picketing of major fuel depots and refineries, virtually halting deliveries in many parts of the country.
Retailers said some filling stations had sold a week's supply of fuel in the past three days.
Fresh action by hauliers was launched yesterday at the giant oil terminal at Immingham on the Humber estuary, a major supplier to the region.
Protesters also closed the country's largest inland oil terminal, at Kingsbury in the West Midlands.
There were continuing actions by truckers and farmers at Avonmouth near Bristol, where Texaco and Fina both have depots, and at a fuel depot in the Cardiff docks area.
Belgian truck drivers protesting against rising fuel prices stormed out of a meeting with Transport Ministry officials yesterday and vowed to blockade Brussels through the night.
Up to 2,500 trucks, buses and taxis converged on Brussels yesterday. Protesters originally said their demonstration would end in the afternoon, but late last night about 300 truckers continued to tie up traffic on key roads.