Fuel protest: M5 and A38 hit by slow convoys as more chaos expected on roads
Demonstrators are calling for more action to tackle soaring petrol costs
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Your support makes all the difference.Fuel-price protesters launched slow convoys on the M5 and A38 as part of demonstrations during the busy summer getaway period.
On the M5, the action was partly responsible for 45-minute delays.
More disruption was feared later, including along the M4, from slow-moving convoys by drivers calling for action to cut the soaring cost of petrol.
In a similar protest earlier this month, around a dozen people were arrested for driving too slowly.
Demonstrations had been planned nationwide, including in Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, London and Manchester, according to information on the Facebook group for Fuel Price Stand Against Tax.
Avon and Somerset Police warned motorists of “slow-moving roadblocks” on parts of the M4, M5, M32 and A38 on Friday morning.
At lunchtime, the M5 convoy left the motorway to switch its protest to a Shell petrol station in Somerset.
The demonstrations were expected to cause disruption on an extra-busy day for roads when schools have been breaking up for summer holidays.
See below for what was our live coverage.
Convoy expected to start heading back south along M5
The convoy has now left the M5 northbound and is expected to head back south, police say.
The M4 and M32 are now not expected to be affected by demostrations:
Motorways busy as summer break kicks off
The protests are hitting as holidaymakers try to get away for the summer break.
Roads are already looking busy, even where they are not affected by the convoys:
Footage of M5
Some videos are coming out on social media claiming to show the fuel protest along the M5.
One says there is “very little tailback” behind them:
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