London  - Hundreds of fuel-tanker drivers began a four-day strike over pay in Britain Friday in an action that could cause petrol shortages and add to pressure on prices.

The industrial action by employees of two haulage firms contracted to supply some 1,000 Shell filling stations across Britain began at 0500 GMT Friday and is expected to last until Tuesday.

Two days of talks aimed at averting the strike broke down Thursday.

Striking tanker drivers Friday mounted picket lines at a number of Shell sites based at oil terminals from Scotland to the south of Britain.

The strike will affect one in 10 of Britain's 9,500 filling stations. The government and the oil and transport industries have urged motorists not to start panic-buying.

Leaders of the Unite trade union have said most of Shell's forecourts are likely to be affected within 24 hours.

The union, which says its members have not had a pay rise since 1992, rejected a 6.8-per-cent pay-rise offer by employers which would have raised annual pay for drivers to 39,000 pounds (78,000 dollars), from current levels of 32,000 pounds. (dpa)