A FUEL blockade is being planned at Petroplus refinery in Stanford-le-Hope this weekend.

The protest has been advertised on Facebook on the “Stop The Rip Off” group page.

The invite to protest against soaring fuel prices, from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, has been sent to all the group’s 4,566 members.

According to the page,160 have confirmed they will attend, 430 say they may attend, and 3,976 have yet to reply.

David Kent, one of the Facebook group’s administrators, posted: “The refinery is the busiest in the United Kingdom providing oil to BP, Shell and Exxon to name a few.

“By blockading the road, distribution can be stopped dead.

“Every tanker that is stopped from exiting prevents 34,000 litres of fuel flowing into London.”

Petroplus spokesman Georgina Clarke confirmed that the refinery has heard about the protest and is liasing with police.

Essex Police spokesman Laura Anderson said it will be prepared for the protest.

She said: “ We are aware of some information on social networking sites that there may be a protest, and we are therefore planning an appropriate policing response for that eventuality.

“We have been liaising with Petroplus, and officers in Thurrock are being vigilant in respect of any activity at the site.

“We will be prepared to manage any potential impact on the community should the protest take place.”

Hundreds of protesters caused chaos when they blockaded the main road into the refinery for more than six hours back in October.