TANKER drivers at the Coryton oil refinery were set to join in a national strike today.

Pay talks between the union Unite and employers Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport broke down yesterday.

It means 161 drivers based at the Coryton refinery, who deliver fuel to Shell petrol stations across the UK, are due to take part in the four-day walkout from 6am this morning.

The pay row started after the union claimed workers are paid the same now as in 1992 - just under £32,000 a year.

Len McCluskey, assistant general secretary of Unite, said he was "extremely disappointed" the talks had broken down.

He said: "This dispute could have been resolved if Shell had advanced a fraction of the billions of pounds in profit they make every month.

"One of the world's richest companies is prepared to play Pontius Pilate and see the British public inconvenienced rather than settle this dispute for a sum smaller than the chairman's pay increase last year."

However Shell said it was not involved in any negotiations between the union and the transport firms.

Fears have been raised about fuel shortages across south Essex but drivers have been urged not to panic-buy.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown refused to rule out calling in the Army to help move the fuel.

Hoyer and Suckling Trans-port said they had put two offers to the union.

These were an initial increase for this year of 7.3 per cent backdated to the beginning of the year, which would take average earnings to over £39,000.

A further offer of a six per cent increase from the beginning of next year, which would take earnings to around £41,500, was then offered.

The firms said they asked the union to suspend the strike and put the offers to a ballot of workers but said Unite refused.

Bernie Holloway, spokesman for the two firms, said: "We offered a substantial amount to the drivers.

"We extended our offer to the very limits that our business could sustain.

"We are disappointed that our improved offers have been rejected.

"Unfortunately, it looks likely now that there will be a damaging and costly strike."