INDEPENDENT fuel companies are planning a series of protests against an alleged two-tier pricing system which they say is forcing rural garages out of business.

A convoy of more than 12 road tankers, owned by most of the region's independent fuel suppliers, converged on the forecourt of a Total Fina petrol station in Leeds earlier this week to fill up with diesel.

The convoy caused considerable congestion as the independents sought to air their frustrations about their inability to provide rural garages with cost-effective fuel.

The protest was led by Bayford Thrust, along with other companies including Rix, Northern Energy, Tates, WCF and CPL.

Bayford Thrust's marketing manager, Mr Rob Staines, told the D&S Times on Wednesday that further protests were imminent in North Yorkshire and Teesside.

He said: "The purpose of the protests is to raise the profile of the plight of rural garage owners, whose livelihoods are being placed in jeopardy by the unfair two-tier pricing structure in operation from the majors to oil distributors such as ourselves."

The independents say rural garages are struggling to compete because the pricing structure allows major oil companies and supermarkets to sell below cost.

Mr Jonathan Turner, managing director of Bayford Thrust in Northallerton, explained: "We buy our fuel from the refinery at a greater cost than the oil companies are selling on their forecourts. By the time we have added the cost of haulage, never mind any kind of margin, the price to the rural site is already 6p per litre above the oil company sites. There is clearly no room for the garage owner to make a profit if he wishes to remain competitive."

Bayford Thrust, which has been supplying rural independent garages for over 30 years, claims if nothing is done soon it will not be long before these petrol stations suffer the same fate as rural post offices and banks.

Thousands of rural garages have closed in recent years and the total number is reported to be down to 10,000 from 16,000 a few years ago. More than 20 sites supplied by Bayford Thrust in the North have closed in the last 18 months