Fuel protestors set to strike again

The hauliers and farmers who rocked Tony Blair four years ago with their blockades have vowed to create havoc once again as prices at the pumps rocket.

Campaign leader Andrew Spence, 37, said he and his comrades will bring city centre traffic to a halt with a slow-moving convoy through Newcastle upon Tyne.

It will be the first of a series of protests up and own the country.

The protest next Wednesday will highlight objections to soaring fuel prices following a terrorist attack in Saudia Arabia which left 22 dead.

Mr Spence from the North East People's Fuel Lobby hopes to draw maximum attention to his cause before the Euro elections on June 10.

But the Government is rejecting pressure to drop a proposed 2p rise on fuel duty.

Mr Spence, a farmer from Consett, Co Durham, said yesterday: "There is a lot of support for the protest and I would urge members of the public to join us whether they are driving a lorry, a car or a scooter.

"The response so far has been very positive."

The convoy will set off at 8.30am and will travel around the middle of Newcastle on the central motorway past St James' Park and back over the Redheugh bridge.

The protestors will complete the route twice.

Mr Spence added: "We want to show the Government and remind people not to vote Labour and get a vote of no confidence to reflect the high prices of fuel.

"The rising prices are totally insensitive and unnecessary when you see taxation levels we have in this country.

"We will be monitoring what the Government says and if these stop these increases we will move in the same direction."

"I hope people will put themselves on the line and say they support this protest."

Downing Street appeared to rule out reversing its position on a 2p rise on fuel duty, despite fears that petrol price rises could spark mass protests similar to those of four years ago.

Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman insisted the premier would not intervene to halt price rises at the pumps.

It is feared that oil prices could continue to rise in the economic fallout of the terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia which left 22 people dead.

Crude oil reached its highest price per barrel in the UK yesterday since its 1990 peak, while in the US it reached a record high.

Crude in the US peaked at 42.33 US dollars per barrel (£22) - up more than 6%. In the UK prices closed at 39.08 US dollars per barrel (£21) - a 6.83% increase.

In October 1990 UK crude hit a record 40.95 US dollars (£21.75) per barrel.

The price surge came after the first day of trading since the weekend's day-long hostage stand-off in oil-rich Khobar which left British executive Michael Hamilton among the dead.

The outrage raised fears that terrorists could cripple Saudi Arabia's ability to export crude. The kingdom is the world's leading crude exporter and the only producer with significant spare capacity to pump more oil.