SWINDON haulage firms suffering from a devastating hit on trade have backed strike action by petrol tanker drivers.

The Army is poised to step in to prevent a fuel shortage after delivery drivers voted in favour of industrial action.

The move by members of the Unite union could lead to 8,000 petrol stations across Britain being forced to close.

Though their campaign is primarily about safety conditions and pay, they were backed by hauliers in Swindon.

Dave Goodenough, who runs a firm based in Oaklands, said: “I don't disagree with what the drivers are doing.

“Put it this way, the haulage industry is on its knees. Basically it’s not the drivers we should be blaming but the fact diesel has gone up to £1.40 odd. Life is not easy.

“I sold a lorry only today and have just heard of somebody up north who has gone out of business after 20 years.

“We live day to day. There are rises in fuel duty and we have had to pay £5,000 to make sure all of our vehicles can go into the Low Emission Zones in London.

“The Government have shot themselves in the foot with the decisions they have taken affecting the industry.”

Paul Keogh, of PK Transport Swindon Ltd, is prepared to join strike action if it widens into a dispute over tax.

He said: “I think every haulage firm in the country should stop work and block the motorways, because we are all going out of business.

“The Government is taking too much tax and we need the fuel under £1 a litre. We are all in debt.”

Mr Keogh raised the prospect that any strike could widen into a dispute over fuel prices, similar to the protests in 2000.

“We need more of us to do it,” he said. “The problem with the haulage industry is that no one sticks together.

“There are too many big companies that are taking all the work and doing it all for nothing so they’re not interested. Us little people are suffering badly. I have lost half my business and I’m already down to one vehicle. It’s just a matter of time.”

The Army is said to have plans to use 300 military tankers to deliver fuel across the UK if needed.

Drivers who voted to strike work for five companies that deliver to forecourts run by BP, Shell, Esso, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

The move would cause widespread disruption with picket lines at fuel depots and oil refineries.

Union bosses at Unite, who balloted 2,000 members, have not ruled out a walkout over Easter.

The union has called on the government and other industry groups to enter into talks.

At the Harvest garage in Old Town there was no sign of panic buying yesterday, though.

Cashier Narendran Thuraisamy said: “We have a delivery today and we are meant to have another next week, but I don’t know what’s going to happen with that.

“A lot of the customers have been asking what's going to happen and I’ve been telling them I have no more idea than they do.

“People have been buying a little bit more than usual but they have not been panic buying.”

Adem Yilmaz, 32, a car mechanic from Peatmoor, was at the pumps yesterday.

He said: “It’s going to hit my business hard if there are problems, but what can I do? The Government have made it so expensive to drive a lot of people have sympathy for the drivers.”

But Ryan Seeward, 21, a shop assistant from Haydon Wick, said: “Some people are in a privileged position because they can go on strike.

“Basically it’s holding everyone else to ransom. A lot of other people will suffer if fuel runs out. But the Government has to take some of the blame for what is happening here.”

Mary Klein, 43, an accountant from Oxford, said: “There are only a few petrol stations in Swindon, it won’t be good for the town at all if it goes ahead.”

Tanker drivers, who work 12 hour-shifts, say pension schemes are being watered down while jobs are being cut.

They also raised concerns about health and safety procedures in transporting large amounts of fuel.