Fuel protesters renew action

Last year protesters brought Britain top a standstill

Protesters were on the the roads in west Wales again on Saturday as part of a renewed campaign aginst the price of fuel.

Around a hundred lorries assembled at Cross Hands in Carmarthenshire on Saturday morning before setting off on the M4 for Swansea city centre.

Later the convoy was expected to return westwards to Carmarthen - where it was due to be joined by a number of farmers.

We have about 100 trucks involved, we have farmers, we have taxis involved and we have hauliers

Shirley Jones, Fuel Protest 2000

Organiser Mike Greene said he was delighted with the turn out.

Twice as many lorries as were expected were taking part in the demonstration, which is intended to put pressure on Chancellor Gordon Brown to announce a substantial reduction in fuel tax in next month's Budget.

Protests by hauliers and other groups over high fuel prices last September crippled supplies and brought UK to a virtual standstill.

The campaigners want the Government to cut the price of diesel by 15p a litre.

"It's a public awareness thing. It consists of a convoy which will be travelling around Swansea city and Carmarthen town," said Shirley Jones, of campaign group Fuel Protest 2000,

"We have about 100 trucks involved, we have farmers, we have taxis involved and we have hauliers."

Demonstrations were also taking place in Milton Keynes, Penrith and Carlisle in Cumbria.

Call to cut duty

"It is a peaceful protest and we will be keeping within traffic regulations. It will last for a few hours in each town," she said.

Ms Jones said the protests had been called to pressure the Government into reducing duty on fuels by more than the promised 2p a litre.

"What we hope to achieve is what we hoped to achieve four years ago when we started this - a cut in fuel duties, an across the board cut," she said.

Police have advised drivers to avoid Carmarthen if at all possible.