PROTESTING lorry drivers converged on York today as anger grew over rising fuel prices.

The hauliers had come to Clifton Moor to register their disgust at increases in fuel duty.

And they reacted with increased fury to the news that fresh price hikes of 2p and even 4p a litre are soon to hit the pumps.

Hauliers' leaders said lorry drivers could get so frustrated that French-style blockades could follow.

The warnings came as the northern Road Haulage Association (RHA) headed to York with their protest "Tax Tanker", part of a campaign urging the Government to slash tax bills by up to 30p a litre with an essential users' rebate for hauliers.

Margaret Edmunds, Yorkshire area manager for the Road Hauliers' Association, said blockades were becoming "increasingly likely".

"We are not necessarily in favour of blockades but if our members wanted that we would probably support them, but not join them," she said.

Liam Quinn, owner of Quinn Transport, based at Shipton-by-Beningbrough, was one of the hauliers at the Tax Tanker protest.

He said: "We only broke even last year and that was with last year's fuel duty and we know how this year is going to go. We are just not able to compete.

"There is going to come a time when we will have to see if it is worth doing any more."

One local garage boss also warned that French-style protests could follow in our region.

Mike Trueman, of Trueman and Partners at Elvington, predicted increased public militancy as the increases took hold.

Mr Trueman, who backed the Dump The Pump campaign against high fuel taxes this summer, said he was disappointed with the lack of national support for the day of action.

"But I think if and when petrol does go up another 4p then we will get more support."

Motoring organisations expressed dismay at the expected British price hike, which might reach 4p a litre after an OPEC meeting in Vienna on Sunday.

Michael Johnson, of the AA, said: "If the increase does take place, motorists will be bitterly disappointed."

Meanwhile, the French action over fuel prices left many British tourists trapped abroad, unable to find enough petrol for their journeys home.

Petrol stations started to run dry after truckers stepped up a blockade of fuel depots.

But York holidaymakers appeared to be escaping the worst of the action today.

Nick Barker, York office manager with York and Helperby-based Eddie Brown Tours, said the company was not experiencing any problems because of the French blockade. He said: "What we are doing is filling up on the English side before we cross over and drive through France. A threatened blockade of the Eurotunnel was foiled when French police stopped attempts to use four tractors to bar the tunnel entrance.