Fuel tanker strike talks adjourned

Talks aimed at averting strikes by fuel tanker drivers have been adjourned and will resume on Wednesday morning.

Leaders of the Unite union spent all day negotiating with officials from six haulage firms under the chairmanship of the conciliation service Acas.

Chief conciliator Peter Harwood said: "Talks have adjourned for the day and will reconvene tomorrow morning. I am encouraged that talks are continuing and that the parties are committed to finding a way forward."

The dispute over terms and conditions and health and safety has been brewing for more than a year but flared up last month when Unite announced that workers in five firms had voted to strike.

The Government advised motorists to top up with fuel, leading to chaotic scenes at garages across the country as people queued for petrol.

There was much criticism of the way the Government handled the prospect of a strike and Labour led calls for the resignation of Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude for advising motorists earlier to store jerry cans of fuel in their garages.