The impending threat of a fuel strike was lessened yesterday when the union and the oil firms agreed to meet for ‘conciliation’ talks.

The union Unite is behind strike threats from fuel tanker drivers over alleged pension and pay cuts. The news comes as strike mediator Acas was brought in by the Government to smooth out the disagreement.

An Acas spokesperson said: “We have now held briefings with all the relevant parties and can confirm that substantive conciliation talks will take place on Wednesday 4 April.”

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey welcomed the talks but said success would only come with “an immediate end to mischievous briefing against the drivers”.