All-day M4 fuel protest finishes

The convoy headed east during the evening rush-hour

Fuel protesters have completed a 12-hour go-slow along the M4 across south Wales, at one point bringing the westbound carriageway to a halt.

Around 60 vehicles, mainly lorries, made up the convoy, which left Cross Hands in Carmarthenshire in the morning and returned after reaching Newport.

Police had warned the convoy to keep to at least 40mph in the inside lane.

Protest leader Mike Greene was arrested for refusing to move in to the slow lane westbound. He was later released.

Road hauliers took to the tarmac to protest at what they say are fuel prices which are too high for their industry, despite the reductions announced on Friday.

The convoy, which on the outward journey swelled to around 100 vehicles when it was joined by coaches, taxis and vans, was heavily policed by officers from three forces, Dyfed-Powys, South Wales and Gwent.

Some tailbacks were reported during the course of the morning protest, particularly as the convoy passed Swansea.

South Wales Police said the first leg of the protest - eastbound from Cross Hands to Newport - caused tailbacks of up to four miles at some stages but added that in the main the protesters complied with instructions.

Part of the convoy of lorries between Swansea and Port Talbot on the M4 Enlarge Image

Meanwhile, environmental protesters used the event to hang banners from a bridge over the motorway at Swansea reading "Cheap fuel costs the Earth" and "Driving to climate change".

But the westbound return journey saw a standoff between the police and protest organiser, Mike Greene, from the South Wales Hauliers' Association, who had two trucks at the demonstration.

He was arrested and the motorway closed in both directions for 20 minutes shortly after the convoy left Newport.

But a deal was struck and the convoy agreed to carry on, this time at 50mph. They protesters returned to Cross Hands around 1930 BST.

Leading the protesters in a brief cheer for their efforts, Mr Greene said: "The war is far from over but we had a very good battle today. I think the point has gone out."

Police gave instructions before the convoy set out in Cross Hands

He added: "I had an officer in the cab with me all the way back, otherwise I would have ended up down in Cardiff police station."

Mr Greene, who was involved in similar M4 demonstrations during the 2000 fuel protests, said further convoys in Wales and other parts of Britain would be organised in the coming months.

On their return to Cross Hands, the hauliers were to take part in a vote on whether to protest at oil refineries in Pembrokeshire.

This was called off as protest leaders said they believed they had got their message across. Within 10 minutes of arriving back, the convoy had split up.

The protest followed "symbolic" demonstrations at oil refineries in England earlier this week.

South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable, Giles York, said: "I believe that we struck the right balance.

'Future prosecutions'

"This has been a challenging policing operation - balancing the needs of lawful protest and the safety and progress of other members of the public.

"A small number of protestors chose to breach the conditions of the protest which were clearly set out by chief officers at Cross Hands and Newport.

"One driver was arrested for public order offences. He was subsequently de-arrested in the interests of the smooth running of the policing operation and evidence gathered throughout the day will now be reviewed for use in any future prosecutions."

The demonstration coincided with two supermarkets announcing they will cut four pence a litre off the cost of their petrol.