ROAD transport bosses are demanding action from the Chancellor to ease the hike in fuel prices caused by the terrorist attack on foreign oil workers in Saudi Arabia.

They say a serious situation is being aggravated by Gordon Brown's refusal to delay his planned September rise of 2p a litre in fuel duty.

And some have threatened to take action if there is a wave of protests at fuel depots similar to the blockades of four years ago.

"I think the company would be prepared to join in we participated in the last blockade," said Mike Farrelly, administrative officer at Westlink Express Transport, which is based at Blagrove in Swindon.

"Finger crossed, but things aren't looking too bright."

Westlink has 22 vehicles on the road.

Shirley Lait, company secretary of SL Transport of Wootton Bassett, which has a fleet of 34 vehicles, has also said her firm would support a protest

Road Haulage Association spokesman Steve Williams said militancy among the RHA's 10,000 members was increasing by the hour.

He added: "Hauliers won't need leading. They will take action.

"They have got to get hold of their MPs and also tell their local public how bad things have become.

"Fuel duty is 50 per cent higher than it is in many other countries. In Britain 74 per cent of the cost of every litre goes to the Chancellor."

Andy Swift of Dutton Haulage of Marshgate has bought as much fuel as he can store.

He said: "I have enough to keep going for a month, but I run more smaller vehicles than many hauliers.

"But I think protest action is going to happen. Talking to people at truck stops I have found the attitude of a lot of hauliers is getting more like the French."

However, Brian Golding, managing director of the Bow Transport Group, who has a fleet of 14 lorries, said he would prefer to leave the fight to the RHA and other trade associations. He believes many haulage firms would suffer if they took part in a blockade, and some smaller ones could go out of business.

Increases in fuel tax and duty over the past few years had been critical for many companies, said Mr Golding.

He added: "I get through £20,000 worth of diesel a month, so it's not hard to see the difference the increase planned for September will make to us when added to the rise in prices caused by the Saudi situation."

Shirley Mathias