Fuel protestors are holding a slow drive down the A1 later today to campaign against the rising cost of refilling at North East forecourts.

Organisers expect around 2,000 vehicles to take part as they plan to slow down a huge section of the A1 from Stannington, near Morpeth to Wetherby.

The protest is being organised by car enthusiast group Summer Madness and will start at 3.30pm travelling at 30mph on the southbound side of the A1.

Yesterday (June 16) organiser Jay Garside, 45, told The Northern Echo: “The feedback I’m getting from Facebook is that everybody wants to do something but no one knows what to do.

Read more: Fuel crisis: Protestors plan slow drive down A1 on Friday

“We know what to do so we decided to lead by example and show people how to do a legal, peaceful protest, not blocking roads or petrol forecourts but slowing down the A1.

“We are expecting around about 2,000 vehicles to come along but it could be anywhere up to four or five thousand.

“We have lorries coming, haulage companies, we are getting an amount of support that we never expected.”

The group has urged anyone wishing to take part to be ‘courteous’ to other drivers including emergency vehicles and warned that any unsafe or dangerous drivers will be reported.

Read more: Stanley Travel boss calls for tax changes as fuel prices rise

Motorists travelling on the A1 this evening may face tailbacks caused by the protest.

The timings of the protest are expected to be as follows:

  • 3.30pm – Stannington Services
  • 3.45pm – Seaton Burn
  • 4pm – Great Park
  • 4.15pm – Fawdon/Kingston Park
  • 4.30pm – Westerhope/West Denton
  • 4.45pm – Metrocentre
  • 5pm - Dunston
  • 5.15pm – Team Valley
  • 5.30pm – Washington Services
  • 5.45pm – Chester-le-Street
  • 6pm – A690
  • 6.15pm – Durham Services
  • 6.30pm – A689
  • 6.45pm – A167 for Darlington
  • 7pm – Caterick
  • 7.15pm – Londonderry
  • 7.30pm – Boroughbridge
  • 7.45pm/8pm – Wetherby Services

 The protestors will then turn around and return to Kingston Park, near Newcastle.

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