French fishermen angry over soaring world oil prices disrupted shipping in the English Channel and blocked deliveries today at two refineries of oil giant Total SA, stepping up protests that have hobbled ports around France.

The trial was due to start today of a sailor accused of unlawful killing after his chemical tanker and another ship collided resulting in the death of a captain.

The skipper and mate of a French fishing boat which collided with an oil tanker causing more than 70 tonnes of oil to spill into the English Channel have been arrested, the coastguard said today.