MOTORISTS were urged not to panic last night as petrol stations saw huge sales increases ahead of tomorrow's fuel protest.

Queues were seen at garages across the North-East and North Yorkshire as motorists refuelled before demonstrations took place at oil refineries.

Petrol prices continued to rise above £1 a litre, and campaigners vowed to go ahead with their nationwide three-day protest unless changes were made.

Campaigners from the Fuel Lobby, who are organising the protests, have given Government ministers until the end of today to negotiate with them, or face their demonstrations.

Latest figures from Admiral insurers claim that 90 per cent of UK motorists are unhappy with fuel prices, and 91 per cent expect prices to continue rising.

Fears built yesterday of a repeat of the scenes in 2000, when hundreds of petrol stations ran short of fuel and motorists queued for hours to refill.

Although retailers say there is no fuel shortage, a "minimum purchases" system could be introduced to regulate fuel buying.

Ray Holloway, director of the Petrol Retailers Association, said: "There is no panic buying and people should be aware that there is no shortage of fuel.

"What we may see is an implementation of a minimum purchases system to stop any panic buying, but this wouldn't have an effect on anyone's lifestyle."

Andrew Spence, spokes-man for the Fuel Lobby, called on motorists to join the refinery protests from 6am tomorrow.

"It's no wonder people are taking to panic buying again when there is talk of the Government operating a rationing system," he said.

Mr Spence, from Leadgate, near Consett, County Durham, added: "People all over the country are already telling us about queues, and I've waited 20 minutes myself this morning."

Garages throughout the region recorded huge increases in customers yesterday and throughout the weekend.

Derek Weaver, assistant manager of the Morrisons petrol station in Ormesby Road, Middlesbrough, said cars were queuing for fuel.

He said: "It is so, so busy here. We had reached our sales figure for a normal day by 3pm. The forecourt has been packed, and there are queues back on to the road. You can safely say people are panicking."

Cars also queued at the Morrisons garage in Morton Palms, Darlington.

Julie Alderson, manager of the Total filling station in Crook, County Durham, said they had been very busy.

"It started to get busy last week when news of a possible blockade first broke," she said. "So far, we have been extremely busy this week. The forecourt has been full all the time, and customers have said they've seen queues at other garages they've passed. I'm expecting it to get even busier."

Mark Chisholm, manager of Catterick Service Station, in North Yorkshire, said "We are running low on petrol, but haven't got another delivery due until Thursday - so we could soon be struggling."

Alan Moutrey, manager of Kirklee Services, in Victoria Road, Darlington, said: "We have been busy. As I look out of the window every pump is full, and it has been throughout the weekend.

"It is an extremely busy Monday compared to normal."