NATIONWIDE protests over rising fuel prices failed to garner much support today, with only a handful of demonstrators braving the cold to show their concern.

The protests were planned at oil refineries across the country by umbrella group Transaction 2007, which is unhappy about rising fuel prices and the 2p rise in fuel duty planned for the new year.

Announcement of the action sparked fearful memories of seven years ago, when blockades led by the Transaction 2000 group caused widespread fuel shortages and long queues for petrol.

But most of today's demonstrations attracted only a small number of protesters.

At Purfleet in Essex, where a demonstration was due to be staged, a lone pensioner arrived to attack the Government's tax policy.

Retired care assistant June Walker, 61, of Rainham, Essex, said: "I've got nothing to do with the haulage industry. I'm just a pensioner who pays £57 to fill up a Peugeot 307.

"I am fed up of this Labour government. This is tax on the poor because, when you have to pay so much for fuel, it knocks on to everything else."

Mrs Walker, a mother of two and grandmother added: "I read about the protest on the internet and I had hoped more people would be here, but it seems I'm the only one."

The largest turnout was at the giant Fawley refinery in Southampton, where there was a gathering of 25 protesters and drivers going in and out of the depot gave toots of support.

Around eight protesters gathered at the gates of the Ellesmere refinery in Cheshire.

Local organiser Tom Houghton, a beef farmer from nearby Sandbach, denied the action was a failure and said: "We are sending the message to Mr Brown loud and clear."

He warned: "It only takes a few trucks to bring this country to gridlock.

"I hope it doesn't come to that but it could easily happen given the seriousness of the situation.

"It is not a case of us declaring war on the Government. All we are trying to do is to get them to talk to us."

Squeezed

He said farmers are being squeezed between rising fuel costs and demand for cheap food.

He said farmers were unable to put up their prices but supermarkets were passing the transport costs onto families by hiking prices.

The poor turn-out was due to families going shopping in the run up to Christmas, he added.

Rob Muir was disappointed with the low numbers at Jarrow in South Tyneside.

The 42-year-old farmer from Wolsingham, Co Durham, said: "We just roll over and take it in this country.

"If this was France it would be a different story.

"There is eight of us here and I thought there would be a lot more than that."

In Cardiff, at the Texaco refinery, David Handley, Chairman of Farmers for Action, said: "We face the prospect of another 2p being added in the new year. It's driving the farming and haulage industries to the wall.

"If the Government don't sit down with us then we will be back after Christmas and it won't be as pleasant as it is now - if you put a rat up a drainpipe and he can't do anything to get out, what's he going to do?"

Mr Handley stressed he was not disappointed with the turn out, despite the fact only eight people - plus South Wales Police officers and media - braved the cold for the peaceful demonstration.

In a separate protest, a convoy of 45 trucks travelled across central Scotland.

The Road Haulage Association said hauliers were taking action as they face a "bleak future" over falling profit margins.

Spiralling world oil prices and increased government taxation of petrol and diesel recently sent average UK fuel prices at the pumps soaring past the £1 a litre mark for the first time.

Meanwhile, three of the UK's leading environmental groups used the occasion to call on the Government to increase fuel duty, and do more to get freight and traffic off the roads.

Friends of the Earth, WWF-UK and Greenpeace said the cost of motoring had fallen 10% in real terms since Labour came to power in 1997, while the cost of public transport had risen, with bus fares up 13% and trains up by 6%.

The UK's carbon emissions need to fall by at least 80% by 2050 if the country is to play its part in the fight against climate change, the groups said.

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