POLICE chiefs have warned that a fuel tax convoy could pose a danger to the public, as D-Day dawned on Government efforts to head off the protest.

Chancellor Gordon Brown was expected to unveil concessions in his pre-budget statement today, including essential user rebates, but has ruled out substantial cuts in fuel duty.

And campaigners have rejected calls to abandon their cavalcade, due to set off from the North-East, on Friday, on a four-day trek to London, unless there is a significant reduction in the level of tax on petrol.

The Association of Chief Police Officers met with protest leaders in Northumbria, but said yesterday they were disappointed with the response.

ACPO president Tony Burden condemned the People's Fuel Lobby for pressing ahead with their plans for a convoy.

He said: "There is no question in our minds that the tactic is dangerous and creates a danger to members of the public.

"There will be positive policing to ensure that those convoys do not proceed down the motorway creating that danger in the way it did last time.

"This is a profoundly dangerous tactic which is likely to create accidents - major accidents on the motorway systems."

He also criticised the protestors for planning to take the convoy through areas badly affected by floods.

He said chief constables across the country would be considering cancelling leave for officers and requiring some to work 12-hour shifts to help police the protest.

Police in York have already pleaded with protestors to avoid the flood-hit city.

But Gateshead haulier Craig Eley, a member of the People's Fuel Lobby, said the planned convoy would cause no more problems to road users than normal Friday night rush-hour traffic.

He accused police forces of joining the Government in trying to scare the public into turning against the protestors.

He said: "We are not wanting to create massive havoc, but the protest is still going on. It is typical of the police and typical of the Government. They are trying to use scaremongering tactics against us."

He said the convoy would avoid areas worst affected by the floods.

The protestors have dubbed the convoy a Millennium version of the Jarrow Crusade but South Tyneside District Council leader Paul Waggott yesterday said if it went ahead it would tarnish the memory of the 1936 march, when 200 people walked to London in protest at high unemployment.