Britain may consider fuel measures

LONDON, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Skyrocketing fuel prices in Britain has set off concerns the government may introduce some form of restrictions if panic buying continues.

Supply disruption could also result from a planned protest by those fighting the higher fuel prices. The campaigners have warned they will extend their action, which could bring widespread disruption and more panic buying across the country, the Daily Mail reported.

Gasoline prices have jumped to nearly $6 a gallon and were expected to go even higher by supply problems caused to the U.S. oil industry by Hurricane Katrina, the report said.

Government ministers were reported to be poring over a document that said: "Specific measures ... may include a restriction in some form of the amount of fuel a motorist is able to purchase at any given time."

It said: "Measures may also be introduced to discourage motorists from the practice of topping up their fuel tanks at frequent intervals."

But Finance Minister Gordon Brown told the BBC he has not been having meetings on any fuel rationing.

The director of the gasoline retailers association, meanwhile, said the government may introduce a system of "minimum purchases" to stop the panic-buying.