Police escort vehicles across the Prince of Wales Bridge
(Picture: PA Wire)Arrested fuel price campaigners have called for more protests after causing a day of disruption on the motorways over high fuel prices on Monday.
Roads across the country - including south Wales, Essex, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire - were blocked by protesters driving slowly in protest over the price of fuel.
Officers at Gwent Police said 12 people were arrested during one protest on the M4 in south Wales and Somerset near the Prince of Wales Bridge which forced it to close for an hour in both directions.
Gwent Police chief superintendent Tom Harding said all were arrested for breaching the legal notice issued by the police prior to the protest by driving at under 30 mph for “a prolonged amount of time".
The protests, which started at around 7am, are understood to have been organised via social media under the banner Fuel Price Stand Against Tax, although police said their discussions were held with the organiser of the M4 ‘stand up to fuel prices’ protest.
The average price of petrol reached a new high of 191.5p per litre on Sunday, while the average price of diesel was 199.0p per litre, according to Experian.
Sharon Downs, 46, who was among those arrested, called for more protests until fuel taxes were brought down.
Ms Downs, a saddle fitter from Pontypridd, said: “I’m disappointed more people haven’t come with us today but I think the price of fuel is sadly exactly why there’s not more here. And needing to be at work.
“But something needs to be done about it, we need the tax on fuel to be brought down before this country is on its knees.
"We need more protests and we need more people to join in so our voices are heard, and the Government know we won’t stand for it anymore.”
Another arrested was former HGV driver from Cwmbran, Vicky Stamper.
The 41-year-old said she and her partner Darren had to give up jobs in Bristol because they could no longer afford the fuel.
Talking before the protest about the disruption it 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."
Mobile welder Richard Dite, 44, from Maesteg, South Wales, was also arrested.
“It’s costing me £300 a week before I even get to work and earn anything," he said.
There were also protests on the A38 in Devon and at a Tesco petrol station in Shepton Mallet.
There were also demonstrations on the M54 in Shropshire, on the A64 in the York area, on the M180 near Scunthorpe, and on the A12 in Essex.
