PETROL stations in East Lancashire were beginning to feel the pinch as the fuel tanker drivers' strike entered its fourth day.

The walkout by drivers delivering fuel to Shell garages, supported by a go-slow protest on the M6 and wildcat stoppages across the North West ended at midnight.

But another four-day strike is in prospect this coming weekend, unless talks between the Unite union and employers bring a resolution to the dispute.

Early yesterday at least three Shell garages in East Lancashire were battling through the fuel strike - albeit with limited supplies.

Only a few pumps remained operational at the Shell garage in Rawtenstall, mostly for premium unleaded fuel, and it was a similar tale at the firm's Rising Bridge station.

The King Street garage in Blackburn was faring slightly better, with slightly more diesel and ordinary unleaded pumps working.

The company also trades at the M65 services, Windmill petrol station on Preston New Road, Blackburn, GEM in Burnley Road, Accrington and the Savoy station in Blackburn Road, Darwen.

Government officials said on Sunday that total of 647 petrol stations out of the UK's 8,700 were affected by the strike, including Shell garages.

Bosses at Shell claimde around 249 of its sites were affected by shortages of one or more types of fuel because of the industrial action.

Sales are said to have risen by 25 per cent but industry sources deny that this was as a result of panic buying'.

Rough spot-checks of garages in East Lancs has revealed that the average price for unleaded fuel is around 116.9p per litre and 130.9p per litre for diesel.