MOTORISTS are preparing for possible fuel shortages amid fears of a new petrol crisis.

Drivers across Bury have been topping up with extra fuel after Tony Blair ruled out an across-the-board cut in fuel taxes in next week's mini-budget. Protesters set a 60-day time limit for the Government to reduce fuel duty, which expires in less than two weeks, on November 13.

Business is brisk on the forecourt at filling stations across the borough.

Owner of Elton garage, David Smyth, said: "We've seen an increase over the last few days, but it's not panic buying. I think people are wisely filling up more."

But Mr Smyth did not foresee any immediate danger of the pumps running dry: "We've got plenty of petrol, we've been provisionally filling our tanks at the garage."

And Bury's Halfords store has seen a huge increase in the number of people buying petrol cans. The company has seen a 500 per cent increase in sales.

Store manager Clive Fearn said: "On Wednesday demand was enormous.

"Going back to the previous crisis we've had an upturn in the sale of petrol cans, so much so that we've found it hard to meet demand."

Bury farmer Alan Chadwick, who demonstrated at the Trafford Park oil terminal in September's protests, said that he was still hopeful that the Government would make concessions next week.

"We'll just have to see what they come up with, they've still got time," he said.

Mr Chadwick, who was present at a meeting of the People's Fuel Lobby this week, in which further action was planned, said: "Things will have to take a slightly different twist this time.

"It won't involve shutting supermarkets. We're not going to starve people, we've all got to eat."

Unless action is taken to reduce fuel tariffs, Mr Chadwick plans to join protesters in London on November 14.

Truckers and farmers from across the country will converge on the capital, bringing traffic to a halt.

Alan will be joined by dairy and sheep farmers from Pilsworth and Ramsbottom.