Talks planned and more talks demanded in fuel tankers' strike

There's been a spate of developments in the last couple of hours. First the date for what Acas calls "substantive conciliation talks" has been announced for this Wednesday. It shows the initial meetings to set out the agenda for talks have gone smoothly today.

The union has already said there will be no strike over the Easter break - and any future action would require seven days notice.

Also this afternoon, it has emerged that the Retail Motor Industry Federation has written to the Office of Fair Trading demanding a review of fuel supplies and has sent a blistering letter to Ed Davey the Energy Secretary requesting urgent talks.

They say the government made panic buying worse and that the closure of more than 6000 forecourts since the fuel blockades of the year 2000 makes drivers vulnerable when there is trouble of the type we've been seeing.