BBC's Simon Montague: "Frustration has been growing since the Budget in March"

Truckers caused long tailbacks with "go-slow" demonstrations aimed at highlighting their cause.

At issue is the rising level of duty on diesel in Britain. Hauliers say cheaper diesel on the continent is helping foreign competitors capture their business.

There is concern in the industry that thousands of jobs will be lost when new rules on permits are relaxed on July 1st, allowing continental haulage firms to compete for contracts directly against UK companies.

The go-slow protest on the M6 motorway

But the disruptive protests have divided the lorry-driving fraternity, with some in the industry critical of the new association Trans-Action, which organised the direct action.

The larger, more influential Freight Transport Association has, in the past, taken a tough line against similar action by French truckers.

Up to 160 heavy-goods vehicles congregated in the West Midlands, causing long tailbacks as they occupied two lanes of the M6 motorway.

The covoy was given a police escort as it crawled into the centre of Birmingham, in an effort to ease disruption.

Disruption was compounded by a serious lorry crash

It was a similar story in London where up to 100 drivers drove from Kent to the West End in slow convoy.

They came to a halt in Park Lane, causing confusing and frustration to other drivers.

The snarl-ups were compounded by a serious accident in Gloucestershire when a lorry hit a bridge near Tewkesbury, killing the driver. A 15-mile stretch of the M5 was closed to early morning commuters. The motorway was not due to reopen until 6pm.

Tony Fox: "We don't want foreigners doing our work"

Haulage firms are deeply unhappy at the recent tax rises imposed on diesel. The government's levy rose 5.5p on a litre in the last Budget, making the average cost of filling up a lorry in Britain £650.

That compares to about £450 in France and £350 in Luxembourg.

Tony Fox of Trans-Action said: "We don't want foreigners doing our work. We intend to do it ourselves. We are good hauliers and we work hard."

But Dan Hodges of the Road Haulage Association criticised the direct action.

Dan Hodges agrees with the sentiments but not the action

"They are absolutely right when they say foreign hauliers will be able to have a big competitive advantage," he said.

"But disrupting central London and the lives of ordinary Londoners is not teh way to convince the general public or the politicians of their cause."