THE Army has been placed on stand-by to prevent another fuel crisis as a 60-day deadline set by protestors gets closer.

Emergency measures invoked by the Government have seen soldiers from Europe's largest Army base, at Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire, join hundreds of others across the country in receiving heavy goods vehicle training.

The Army will be brought in to maintain fuel supplies if campaigners carry out their threat to blockade refineries and distribution centres if fuel duty has not been lowered by November 13.

The prospect of military intervention prompted protestors to voice fears over safety, but a Ministry of Defence spokesman said all drivers would be trained to the necessary level.

The potential for a second nationwide fuel crisis was top of the agenda for Tory leader William Hague at the weekend, when he launched his party's latest fuel action day in Catterick Village.

He highlighted the issues facing Mondeo Man in a visit to the WCF petrol station, where he met local activists collecting signatures for a petition demanding a reduction in fuel taxes.

Mr Hague said: "The price of fuel is astronomical and the main cause of this is the high level of tax imposed by Labour. It is now hurting ordinary people."

Meanwhile, Chancellor Gordon Brown has been warned that high fuel taxes are crippling the British coach industry.

In a submission to Mr Brown, the Confederation of Passenger Transport called for the 75 per cent fuel tax rebate received by local bus services to be extended to coaches.

Director General Veronica Palmer said: "It simply doesn't make sense. The Government is trying to promote public transport, but is penalising the very industry which can get people out of their cars most effectively."

But the fuel shortages which brought the country to a standstill last month failed to shake business confidence in Britain, according to a survey out today.

A report from business information group Dun & Bradstreet showed that the 1,000 managers and finance directors questioned had not changed their expectations for the final quarter of the year from predictions three months ago