A taxi driver is urging colleagues to join him in legal action after claiming dodgy fuel had damaged engines.

Fuel firms Shell and Esso have responded with phone lines for cabbies to leave complaints as they try to assess the scale of the problem.

Driver Dennis Bean said the diesel is corroding fuel pumps and has put his cab off the road since the weekend after fuel leaked out of his cab on several occasions leaving his tank empty.

He fears it could be weeks before new parts can be shipped and fitted.

"Someone said it could take three days, someone else said it could be three weeks."

He said the cab was supposed to be on the road for 16 hours a day but the inaction could cost $200-400 a day during a time when he should be catching the last of the cruise ship season before the winter slow-down.

Mr. Bean claimed up to 30 cars had been hit by the problem which affected both customers of Shell garages and Esso garages.

He said: "I spoke to my lawyer. There has got to be some sort of compensation. Drivers aren't working."

One mechanic The Royal Gazette spoke to said the problem was caused by diesel leaking through seals on the injection pump.

He said: "It looks as if there's a chemical reaction. There appears to be something wrong with the fuel."

Mr. Bean claimed that Government had known about the problem for some time but Esso General Manager Ed Edelson said he only found out on Saturday that taxi drivers were having problems.

Asked about Mr. Bean's threats of legal action he said it was important the facts were gathered before any blame was apportioned.

Shell General Manager John Vickerman admitted there could be a link with the diesel fuel and he urged cabbies to come forward with information to help them nail the source of the problem.

He said: "As there is a possibility there could be a connection with the diesel fuel.

"Shell has also taken the precautionary measure of taking diesel product samples today for analysis at the Shell laboratories in Europe."

Mr. Edelson said Esso was aware of the leaky fuel pumps and was taking complaints very seriously.

He too urged drivers with problems to call the company with details.

@EDITRULE:

Numbers for taxi drivers to call:

Shell 299 7030

Esso 294 5226.