THE boss of one of Wharfedale's oldest haulage firms yesterday tried to allay fears that another fuel blockade was a foregone conclusion.

As a wave of petrol panic-buying caused long tailbacks and chaos at petrol stations across Wharfedale, Aireborough and Horsforth, following false rumours of more blockades this week, Richard Jefferies from Jefferies Haulage in Otley called for calm.

He said that most haulage firms do not want another fuel blockade and added that as far as he was aware there would not be one - at least until the end of the 60-day deadline set for Chancellor Gordon Brown to meet with protesters.

In the wake of yesterday's rumours, panicking motorists were queueing from Guiseley town centre to the petrol station at Kirk Lane Yeadon.

Similar length queues built up at the White Cross BP service station. These tailed back to St Mary's School at Menston.

Last week Mr Jefferies was among protesting hauliers who blockaded the oil the oil terminal at Cross Green, in Leeds, along with 15 other companies.

He told the Wharfedale Observer: "We are too busy a people to start blockading and I personally have no plan of action to join another one.

"We all have a loyalty to our customers and they suffer if we're involved in a blockade. It costs people. I believe there is a genuine reluctance for this sort of action and we don't want to lose the goodwill of the people.

"Gordon Brown has had his wake-up call. It's time for him to get his act together - that is all we are asking.

"The Road Haulage Association has proposed a meeting with Mr Brown within the next fifty-odd days. I believe that when the figures that show our problems are put to him he will sit and listen and look and reconsider his decision on fuel taxes.

"I'm hoping that after he has spoken to them he will see that some companies are on their knees."

Mr Jefferies, who refused to comment when asked whether he would join another blockade if there was one, said that it was a misconception that last week's blockade had been organised.

"There was no central organisation involved. We saw it on the television, spoke to one or two other hauliers and things just snowballed from there. There was no co-ordination - it was a spontaneous thing.

"And I don't care what anyone says, fuel for emergency services was getting through. We made sure of that."

Mr Jefferies said that high fuel prices were in danger of crippling the country.

"The crux of the problem is that we're not equal with other companies in Europe - fuel is far cheaper over there than it is over here. This isn't a minor inconvenience, it's causing job losses in the industry, and it also affects all of us.

"What people should realise is that the ordinary man in the street ends up paying for this. Higher fuel prices mean higher food prices in the shops."