You are in > manchester.com  > News > Fuel protestors descend on Manchester

General Manchester news

Fuel protestors descend on Manchester

05/06/2008

Hundreds of motorcyclists and lorry and taxi drivers protesting against the price of fuel caused delays today in and around Manchester and Salford.

The go-slow convoy left Birch services around 0800 BST on the M62 and headed into the heart of the city-region via the M60 and the M602.

Police used roadblocks to keep disruption to a minimum but urged commuters to find other routes to work.

It is thought that the protest was led by two motorcycling fuel protesters, known only as Maverick and Triumph Man.

The convoy comes after similar protests from lorry drivers in London and is likely to place further pressure on the government, which is debating whether to raise fuel duty by 2p this autumn.

The prime minister is also being urged by some backbenchers and the Conservatives to drop plans to increase vehicle excise duty, which would hit millions of motorists.