Drivers are facing more chaos during this morning’s rush hour as campaigners blocked motorways in a protest over soaring fuel prices.
Protesters created a rolling blockade along the M4, heading towards the Prince of Wales bridge. Similar demonstrations have also been reported in Yorkshire and Shropshire.
Among the roads that have been disrupted since 7am are:
- the M4 and Prince of Wales Bridge
- the M5 in Devon
- the M32
- the A38
- the M180 in Lincolnshire
- the A12 in Essex
- the M62 in Yorkshire
- the A92 in Scotland
Police warned of “serious disruption throughout the day”, with motorists urged to stay at home where possible.
Why are the protests happening?
The action comes amid growing discontent about the surging cost of petrol and diesel on petrol station forecourts, which has been driven higher by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
But motoring groups have complained that pump prices have remained high even after wholesale costs began to fall back.
The average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts reached a new high of 191.5p on Sunday, according to data firm Experian.
The average price of diesel was 199.0p per litre.
Howard Cox, founder of the FairFuelUK Campaign, said: "These are not just demonstrations against the record excruciatingly high petrol and diesel prices that rise each and every day.
"They are also about the sickening chronic manipulation of pump prices and the complete lack of scrutiny by our out of touch Government, in allowing unchecked petrol and diesel profiteering to run rife."
One person has been arrested for "unsafe driving" on the A38 heading northbound from Ivybridge, police said, while 12 arrests have been made from the convoy on the M4.
Protesters will not be arrested by police, providing they do not drop their speed below 30mph. In Wales, protest organisers were told by police before leaving they could not stop and must drive no slower than 30mph.
A Government spokesman said: "While we respect the right to protest, people's day-to-day lives should not be disrupted, especially on busy motorways where lives are put at risk and resulting traffic delays will only add to fuel use.
"The new Public Order Bill will make it a criminal offence to glue yourself to a dangerous motorway, which sees police spending hours trying to safely remove people."
M4 closed around Severn Bridge
The M4 has now been closed in both directions near the Severn Bridge due to the protests, according to reports.
Among those gathering at Magor services, near Caldicot, was Vicky Stamper, 41.
The former HGV driver, from Cwmbran, said she and her partner Darren had to leave jobs in Bristol because they could not afford the fuel any longer.
She said: "We had to leave those jobs because it was costing us £380 a week just to get to and from work.
"I then lost a job two weeks ago because the company couldn't afford to put fuel in that many lorries so last in, first out."
She said the situation has taken an emotional toll on her and her family.
Talking about the disruption the protest will cause to drivers, Ms Stamper added: "We're doing this for us and for them. If they want to have a moan, they should join us instead."
Asked what she would ask Prime Minister Boris Johnson to do, she said: "Resign."
Gwent Police warned protesters that it was aware of "driving offences" being committed during the fuel protest.
"We are aware of driving offences being committed during the planned protest on the M4," a spokesman said.
"We are committed to increasing the safety of all road users in Gwent and beyond.
"We urge all motorists to drive carefully, responsibly and within the limits of the law."
At least eight protesters who were carrying out a demonstration along the M4 have been arrested on suspicion of committing a public order offence.
A number of the M4 protesters have said they believe those who were arrested have been "unfairly" targeted by Gwent Police and Avon and Somerset Police.
Drivers of the vehicles conducting a rolling roadblock on the motorway from Magor Services, South Wales, this morning were arrested for a public order offence, breaching the rules requiring them to drive at a speed of 30mph or more.
Passengers of some of the vehicles, who were driven back to the service station in a police van just before midday, said some of the motorists were unable to drive any faster due to the demonstrators leading the convoy driving at about 10-15mph.
Mobile welder Richard Dite, 44, from Maesteg, South Wales said it is costing him over £300 in fuel to get to work every week due to price hikes.
"It's costing me £300 a week before I even get to work and earn anything," Mr Dite told PA news agency.
"My only option soon will be to put the welding gear in the shed and call it a day, maybe go on the dole.
"Face it at this rate I'll be on more that way."
He was joined at Magor Service Station with around a dozen or more other people who have driven this morning across the Prince of Wales Bridge in protest of fuel tax.
Protesters gather at Ferrybridge services in Yorkshire
West Yorkshire Police said a "small group" of motorists were protesting about fuel prices in the vicinity of Ferrybridge services.
"There is currently no disruption to the motorway network in the rush-hour period, but we would advise drivers to avoid Ferrybridge services," a force spokesman said.
"We acknowledge the importance of lawful protests but will deal swiftly with any criminal offences.
"It is clear deliberate disruption of the network will inconvenience huge numbers of people, draw police resources away from other important work and potentially delay the response times of all emergency services."
Police said the protest has cleared but there was a go-slow by campaigners on the A64 in the York area.
"We're working closely with local and regional partner agencies to minimise disruption," North Yorkshire Police said.
"We have additional officers and support in place to ensure protest activity is lawful and disruption is kept to a minimum."
M5 flowing again after disruption
Devon and Cornwall Police said a protest on the M5 had ended but there had been other incidents on the A38.
"Unfortunately we have had unsafe driving on the A38 including vehicles travelling at a dangerously low speed," a force spokesman said.
"One driver ignored a previous warning and has now been arrested.
"Officers remain on our roads monitoring these protests."
Slow moving traffic on M54
Meanwhile, in Shropshire fuel price campaigners held a protest on the M54.
West Mercia Police officers were in attendance as protesters travelled in slow convoy on the motorway between J1 and J4 from 7am until around 8.30am.
"Unfortunately the tactics used by some protesters today compromised the safety of other road users," a force spokesman said.
"Officers gathered evidence during the event and we will take action against those who committed road traffic offences.
"The ability to protest is a fundamental part of democracy, however, when protests start to endanger the public and put the safety of others at risk, appropriate and proportionate action will be taken.
"We apologise for any disruption caused this morning and thank the public for their patience and co-operation."