FUEL tax protestors say they are planning a guerrilla-style campaign in the run-up to the General Election.

The campaigners returned to direct action with a demonstration at a North-East fuel terminal, although tanker movements were unaffected.

About a dozen farmers and hauliers gathered outside the Shell terminal in Jarrow, where they were met by about 30 police officers.

The pickets spoke to drivers entering and leaving the depot, but did not attempt to stop tankers from moving.

Protest organiser Andrew Spence said their aim had been to send a signal to the Government that they had not gone away.

He warned that they were planning a series of high-profile demonstrations, and would return to the terminal, blockaded for five days during September's protest.

He said: "We have noticed some weak links, and we will be coming back and exploiting those. The police can't be here for 24 hours.

"It is guerrilla war tactics. We will be in and out quickly."

Demonstrators also returned to a terminal in Manchester and a depot in Leeds, but no tankers were turned away.

North Wales farmer Brynle Williams, who spearheaded the original protest, said he was not behind yesterday's picketing.

The protests came after pump prices fell by up to 2p a litre, following cuts in the price of crude oil.

Last night, Sainsbury's announced its diesel price would drop by 1p from midnight, and BP Amoco said its prices would fall 1p for unleaded, and 2p for diesel, by the end of the weekend.

Esso said it would match low prices within three miles of its rivals.

Shell UK head of retail Ian Sutcliffe said of the Jarrow protest: "We are obviously concerned about the situation, but we believe the steps we took with Government and with the police authorities are the right way to deal with the situation."

l Up to 30 truckers began a protest outside Avonmouth Docks, Bristol, last night, although organisers said they did not intend to stop tankers.

Spokesman Jim Sully said it was a "token protest".