FUEL protesters were today urged not to put people's lives at risk by blockading Hampshire's oil terminals.

Fears are growing of a wave of dissent to mirror the protests of September 2000 if the government refuses to scrap plans to increase petrol prices by up to 10p a gallon.

Petrol stations ran dry as militant drivers prevented oil tankers leaving terminals, including BP's facility at Hamble and Esso at Fawley.

Now Southampton Itchen MP John Denham has warned against a repeat of the chaos as the price of oil rose sharply yesterday following terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia.

The ex-Labour minister said: "I hope people will be level-headed. The way to make changes to government policy is through democracy, not by blockades.

"A huge number of people suffered: nurses couldn't get to petrol stations, people couldn't get to doctors' appointments and supermarkets.

"It is one thing to protest but it is another thing to force great hardship on many people, especially some of the most vulnerable, as a way of changing the government's stance."

Eastleigh MP David Chidgey warned of the devastating impact of huge oil price hikes on businesses in Hampshire.

The Liberal Democrat backbencher said: "Our part of the world is a centre of the road haulage industry and a rise in fuel prices could signal a potential loss of contracts to business."

Deputy leader of Southampton City Council's Conservative group Councillor Royston Smith said that, although he did not condone blockades, he was not surprised that they were threatened.

He said: "Business and motorists have been hit enough by this government and this is probably one step too far.

"Petrol prices have already soared because of the war in Iraq - the cost of crude oil is up 25 per cent since January."