POLICE and soldiers could be used to break up the blockade at the refinery which supplies petrol stations in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

The Kingsbury refinery in Warwickshire supplies petrol to Jet, BP and Texaco stations.

A meeting of the Queen and the Privy Council at Balmoral last night sanctioned the use of the powers if necessary.

Today the Government was monitoring the situation before deciding whether action was vital to ensure the distribution of fuel across Britain.

The news came as one station on the border of the two counties began charging motorists £1.70 a litre today.

"I thought it would discourage people from filling their cars up and make them put in enough to get them home," said Robert Partridge, of Partridge's Service Station. "But it's not stopping them.

"We thought it would deter people and we could save some for the locals, but it's not working. People are coming from miles."

Most Worcester petrol stations were empty today as panic-buying drained stocks of unleaded, diesel and lead replacement petrol.

Motorists fearing the worst brought chaos to many roads around petrol stations.

"People are asking for petrol all the time," said Angela Richens, of the Jet station at Lower Wick, Worcester. "Yesterday, people were shouting at each other and trying to queue-jump."

Tony Blair today cancelled a regional tour and returned to London for emergency meetings to discuss the deepening fuel crisis.

Oil companies could be sanctioned to deliver direct to health sites and emergency services.

The police have also pledged to ensure that physical access to oil installations was kept open.

Mr Blair held emergency talks with police and oil companies and urged drivers not to aggravate the situation by stockpiling, insisting supplies would be kept moving.

He vowed not to cave in to the blockade protesters.

"We can't and we won't alter Government policy on petrol through blockades and pickets."

He blamed the crisis on panic-buying and the producers' cartel, Opec.