European stocks rise helped by UK oils, U.S. data

* Top-300 index rises 0.2 percent

* Energy stocks lead on back of higher crude oil price

* U.S. durable goods data brings cheer

By Peter Starck

FRANKFURT, Aug 27 (Reuters) - European shares rose on Wednesday as higher crude oil prices lifted energy stocks such as Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and strong U.S. durable goods data eased concerns about a recession in the world's largest economy.

The FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares closed 0.2 percent higher at 1,173.64 points, repeating the previous session's advance.

The oil and gas sector was the top gainer, up 1.6 percent, as the price of crude oil for October delivery CLc1 rose for the third straight day, hitting $119 a barrel, boosted by the possibility that a storm could threaten Gulf of Mexico installations as well as data showing an unexpected fall in U.S. crude stocks.

Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) shares climbed 2.3 percent and BP (BP.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) was up 1.8 percent.

"The oil sector in particular, coupled with the steady recovery we have seen in the crude price over the past week, seems to be attracting interest from investors again," said David Jones, chief market strategist at IG Index in London.

London's energy-heavy FTSE 100 .FTSE outpaced other top national share indexes in Europe, rising 1.1 percent, with the petrochemicals sector accounting for over one third of the gain.

Frankfurt's DAX .GDAXI fell 0.3 percent while the CAC 40 .FCHI in Paris edged up 0.1 percent.

Europe's top-300 index stayed in negative territory for much of the day as investors fretted over the jump in oil prices, which once again lifted inflation concerns to the fore, and over geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West.

Western governments have issued strongly worded condemnations of Moscow's recognition of the breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions, a move which JPMorgan in a strategy note labelled as "a blow to already-bruised investor sentiment."

But stock markets got a lift in the afternoon from the U.S. durable goods data, which sparked a rally on Wall Street.

"Today's data show quite vividly how distant a recession scenario is for the U.S. economy," DekaBank said in a note.