DUMP THE PUMP day kicked off this week, but instead of receiving a rally of support from motorists, the event fell foul of widespread apathy.

It was hoped that millions of drivers would grab this well publicised opportunity to make a stand against spiralling petrol prices.

The campaign website, written by organiser Gary Russell, proclaimed that 'tumbleweed would start rolling around petrol forecourts the length and breadth of the UK.'

And St Albans Conservatives leapt at the chance to galvanise public emotion by manning stalls in the city centre and The Quadrant centre in Marshalswick last Saturday, to protest against the Government's 'highway robbery'.

Vice chairman Beric Read added: 'Labour's tax rises have put up the cost of petrol to the point that it is the single most expensive item in the household budget, above food and mortgages.

'They have added a 34 per cent increase in fuel tax since 1997, making the average motorist £350 a year worse off.'

But in St Albans at least, the whole event seems to have been fallen on deaf ears, as motorists either just forgot or doubted how effective the protest would be.

Most petrol stations throughout the city reported little change in the level of business on Tuesday, and those that did see a drop found themselves busier the day before the event instead.

Manager of the Shell garage in Marshalswick, Rose Morarji said: 'We have been a bit quieter then we normally would be today, but we were really busy last night so it hasn't really affected our trade.'

However, one could not fail to notice that big retailers across the country cut their prices on Tuesday.

They vigorously denied it was a last minute attempt to counter the protest, but the tactic seems to have done the trick, enticing back disillusioned motorists before they joined the boycott.

Manager of the Shell garage in Redbourn, Tara Parveen, said: 'When I came to work that morning there was only one car in the forecourt at 8.50am, which is very quiet. But later that morning I marked our prices down and since then we have been really busy.'

The response to the protest suggested widespread apathy amongst motorists but it also seems that bad planning played a part as many people simply forgot about the whole event.

Organisers are now hoping that many more will join the forecourt boycott each Monday over the coming weeks.

Shannon Price took to the forecourts on Tuesday to find out why so many people refused to take part in the first Dump the Pump campaign.

Mr Michael Ryder from Kings Langley said: 'I forgot about Dump The Pump day but was so low on petrol I would have come today anyway. I spend £500 a month on petrol so I would like to see prices fall and will support the protest in future.'

Mr Simon Gardner, an accountant from Hertford, said: 'I think the whole thing is pointless and won't make any difference. I needed petrol so I got petrol simple as that.'

Mr Steve Wills, a joiner from Wheathampstead, totally forgot about Dump The Pump day. He said: 'I was low on petrol today, but I'll probably join the boycott every Monday from now on as the price of petrol is miles too high.'

Retired consultant Clive Hubbard from St Albans also forgot about Tuesday's campaign. He said: 'I don't think the government will lower the cost of fuel, if they do they'll just tax us elsewhere instead.'

Mr Jeff Weare, a mobile hairdresser from London believes that petrol prices are far too high. He said: 'Because I use my car for work, each time the cost of petrol goes up so do my prices as I have to pass these onto my customers.'

Mr Derek Bone, from Slimmons Drive, St Albans, is retired. He said: 'Petrol prices are far too high. They have shot up so quickly over the last few months. You're better off being German or French because they pay so much less than we do.'