ANGRY protestors took to the roads in Darlington and Sedgefield yesterday as feelings continued to run high over fuel prices.

Self-employed taxi drivers took part in a 5mph crawl around Darlington's ring road in the first demonstration of its kind seen in the town.

And farmers in Prime Minister Tony Blair's constituency staged their own protest, using tractors to clog the A177 between Sedgefield and Stockton.

The taxi drivers had a police escort as they took an hour to circle Darlington, before passing through the town centre to the cheers of office staff.

George Jenkinson, a driver for 30 years, said: "Our fuel has gone up by 23p a litre since this time last year.

"The people are making their point and there is no doubt Mr Blair has been very frightened by it."

Michael Allinson, of Darlington hauliers Geo. Allinson, which lent a truck to the taxi protest, said: "The fuel situation is very bad now. We have only a few days' supplies left."

Elsewhere designated petrol stations had unleaded fuel, but at Morton Park, Darlington, police were making sure it went only to priority services.

One of the few filling stations stocking unleaded for the general public was the Willow Bridge Filling Station, in Barton, but motorists were being rationed to £20 worth of fuel.

South Durham Health Care Trust said it was operating as normal, while Darlington Borough Council also said it was coping.

Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Brigade, which said it had experienced no problems, repeated warnings to people not to hoard fuel.

Divisional officer Ian Dockerty said: "Trying to store petrol illegally is very dangerous and the only safe place for it is in your tank."