Queues are building up at filling stations around the country as motorists fill up their tanks in advance of planned strike action by tanker drivers starting tomorrow.

Gordon Brown intervened to urge both sides to resolve their differences and hoped a way forward could be achieved.

At his monthly press briefing the Prime Minister said: “The most important thing is ... that direct talks are taking place between the companies and their workforce can yield results. There is a way forward for this.”

He said that he was determined to do everything in his power to ensure that people could fill up their cars as normal.

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• From the Archive, 1973: panic buying of petrol

Talks are still going on to avert a four-day strike by 641 drivers contracted to supply the forecourts of Shell stations which account for 1 in 10 of UK petrol stations.

Representatives from the drivers' union, Unite, are engaged in face-to-face meetings with employers from Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport. The services of the Government conciliation services, Acas, are no longer being used.

It is understood that Acas advisers however were able to identify the issues were agreement needed to be reached.

One union source said: “It very much depends if the money is on the table. I do not see any early resolution. It's likely to be a long day.”

There was some optimism among oil companies that a deal may be reached.

Sales of fuel are being monitored by the UK Petrol Industry Association and a spokesman confirmed today there had been a surge.

One industry source is convinced the decision by Downing Street to issue a “don't panic” message to motorists was an attempt to insure that drivers had full tanks before any action disrupted weekend supplies. “The Government had to be seen to be doing something in the wake of Grangemouth. They could not just sit on their hands,” a source said.

Motorists in rural areas are always careful to keep a full tank when there is a hint of possible shortages.

Other towns and cities which seem to react to possible fuel shortages are prime commuter locations such as Reading and Southampton.

People who live near refineries also appear sensitive to possible threat of pumps running dry.

If the strike goes ahead, there are concerns among the oil companies that the dispute could affect other retail outlets if other drivers refuse to cross union picket lines.

Money Central: 10 easy ways to drive down your petrol costs

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