Fears over the supply of fuel are leading to panic buying at some petrol stations Taxi firms and community transport schemes could suffer as a result of growing concern about the fuel crisis.

Panic-buying has meant pumps at some county service stations have been drained, putting pressure on the distribution system.

Coupled with the spiralling price of fuel, it spells tough times for those who rely on their vehicles for work.

Chris Bailey, owner of Wheatley-based CCCB Cars, fears he, and other small taxi firms, could be put out of business if the situation continues.

"My business relies on fuel and if I can't get any, I won't be able to work. I think at the moment if people stopped panic-buying it wouldn't be so bad.

"There seems to be a lot of people who don't need fuel topping up all the time," he said.

Mark Neale, office manager at Banbury Dial-a-Ride said: "At the moment, it's not having much effect, but if it escalates further then it's certainly going to mean that we will have difficulties.

"We're keeping an eye on fuel prices and if the price of fuel carries on rising, it may be that we have to look at reviewing our prices."

The Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach have also warned they may be forced to increase fares.

Stagecoach managing director Martin Sutton said: "We generally review fares once a year, so we're going to be reviewing them anyway, but as far as the size of the increase is concerned, we're going to have to look very carefully at the increase in fuel costs and see what impact that has on the fares."

The Oxford Bus Company's has warned that its fares were likely to rise 'significantly' due to spiralling fuel costs.

However, First Great Western has said the situation will not have a negative impact on train services.

Despite the Government reassuring motorists that the threat of another national shortage was low, Summit Service Stations, in Thame Road, Stadhampton, ran out of diesel on Monday evening, along with Texaco, in Woodstock Road, Yarnton.

Service stations yesterday reported queues of up to 16 cars at a time and at the Abingdon branch of Tesco, staff were guiding motorists on to the forecourt as some pumps ran dry.

Tesco spokesman Deborah Watson reiterated that the rush was not necessary.

"We don't have any supply problems, so we're urging customers not to change their normal buying patterns. There's plenty of fuel for everybody," she said.

Organisers of today's fuel protests have kept their precise plans close to their chests.

They have so far refused to name the oil refineries where they will stage demonstrations, although one of their leaders has pledged there will be no blockades this time.

Andrew Spence, a farmer and haulier from Consett, County Durham, said he was planning peaceful protests at selected refineries around the country from 6am. "We are not going to restrict any thoroughfare of fuel whatsoever," he said.

There are unconfirmed rumours of protests at the Shell refinery at Jarrow, south Tyneside, and at the BP refineries in Coryton, Essex, and Grangemouth in Scotland.

Later in the week, Welsh hauliers hope to create 50-mile rush-hour tailbacks by staging a go-slow on the M4.