A 'GO slow' protest is currently being held with lorries, cars and vans driving in convoy.

The Northern Echo: Fuel protest on the A1Fuel protest on the A1

Andrew Spence, a farmer from Consett, organised the protest which is currently taking place in Gateshead and Newcastle.

Vehicles, escorted by police, left Team Valley this morning and will travel onto the A1 into Newcastle City Centre, over the Tyne Bridge into Low Fell, finished at the Angel of the North.

The Northern Echo: Vans and lorries will be driving in convoy at 5mphVans and lorries will be driving in convoy at 5mph

Traffic disruption is expected with the vehicles travelling a maximum of 5mph.

Read more: Major delays expected as farmer stages fuel protest in Newcastle

The Northern Echo: Andrew SpenceAndrew Spence

Mr Spence said: "I'm going to give the same message out that I did 20 years ago. Fuel is too much, taxation is killing not just the industry but the country.

"If you look at the price of fuel now it's £1.59 country average, if you look at the taxation which is involved in that it's 62p to the pound, plus VAT, it just can't go on. It's not sustainable.

The Northern Echo: Lorries lining up in Team ValleyLorries lining up in Team Valley

"And it's not just the fact that it's going up every week or month, it's going up every day and people can't budget for it, and at the end of the day if there's one thing that's happened this last week, we've made it a hot potatoe again.

"I don't care if I go round here by myself today because it's already out there.

"The problem with the truckers is, they work five days a week, due to regulations they cannot drive a wagon legally Saturday and Sunday - some of the lads I've seen have turned up in cars, which is humbling.

"I wasn't expecting a big turn out with wagons and tractors. I was expecting people to be here which we have got people here. I'm very humbled with the people who have turned up and very humbled by the messages of support that I've had.

"I've spoke to some lads in Dublin, they're out today I've spoke to some lads in Avonmouth, Scotland they're going to be hitting the roads. I've even had Europeans, Germany, France, Spain, Holland they're all up for it. The French as we know are really up for it.

"But we've lit the taper, it's a global issue. And I just hope in Newcastle these merry band of brothers here have set it away, I couldn't be more proud of them."

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