Fuel stations in Italy will be closed from 19.00 on Tuesday 11 December until 07.00 on Friday 14 December, despite last minute attempts by the government to avert the strike.

Negotiations failed between petrol station operators and the ministry for economic development on 10 December.

Petrol stations claim that government policies overcompensate oil companies and undercompensate distributors.

The government ombudsman for strikes has asked the operators to provide at least minimum services, while consumer association Codacons reminded operators that the law requires at least one service station to remain open for every 100 km of motorway, and 50 per cent of stations on other roads.

Meanwhile, a national transport strike that had been scheduled for 14 December has been postponed by trade unions until 8 February.