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| Hauliers head to fuel price demo | Hauliers head to fuel price demo |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of hauliers are travelling to London to demonstrate against the rising cost of fuel. | Hundreds of hauliers are travelling to London to demonstrate against the rising cost of fuel. |
| Lorries will travel in police-led convoys into the capital. Some drivers will park on the A40 while others travel on foot to Westminster. | Lorries will travel in police-led convoys into the capital. Some drivers will park on the A40 while others travel on foot to Westminster. |
| Drivers last demonstrated in May, causing major traffic disruption. | Drivers last demonstrated in May, causing major traffic disruption. |
| They say soaring fuel costs are crippling their businesses and are demanding a 25p-in-the-pound tax rebate on diesel. | They say soaring fuel costs are crippling their businesses and are demanding a 25p-in-the-pound tax rebate on diesel. |
| The protest coincides with a debate in Parliament on the controversial increase in vehicle excise duty planned by Chancellor Alastair Darling. | The protest coincides with a debate in Parliament on the controversial increase in vehicle excise duty planned by Chancellor Alastair Darling. |
| 'Last-ditch attempt' | 'Last-ditch attempt' |
| Lorry drivers gathered at Medway Services in Kent on Wednesday morning before setting off along the M2 towards the capital at about 0800 BST. The convoy included vehicles from as far away as Cornwall and North Yorkshire. | Lorry drivers gathered at Medway Services in Kent on Wednesday morning before setting off along the M2 towards the capital at about 0800 BST. The convoy included vehicles from as far away as Cornwall and North Yorkshire. |
| A second convoy set off from Gateway Services on the M1. | |
| Organisers say they have been driven to protest by fuel bills of up to £1,000 per week for a typical articulated lorry. | |
| National chairman of the Road Hauliers' Association Andy Boyle said: "If ever there was positive proof that ours is an industry in crisis then this surely must be it. The UK road haulage industry is not in trouble, it is facing a catastrophe Peter CarollSeymour Transport MPs gear up for car tax challenge | |
| "The harsh reality is that the price of fuel is now forcing many hauliers out of business. For many, today will represent a last-ditch attempt at making their voice heard." | "The harsh reality is that the price of fuel is now forcing many hauliers out of business. For many, today will represent a last-ditch attempt at making their voice heard." |
| Part of the London-bound A40 will be closed from 1000 to 1600 BST. | Part of the London-bound A40 will be closed from 1000 to 1600 BST. |
| From 1030 BST, groups of lorries will be led by police motorcycle into the heart of London, travelling via Marble Arch, Vauxhall Bridge and Westminster Bridge and ending up on Victoria Embankment. | |
| Peter Caroll, owner of Seymour Transport and one of the organisers of the action, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that British hauliers could not compete with foreign rivals. | |
| "We are under mortal threat. The UK road haulage industry is not in trouble, it is facing a catastrophe," he said. | |
| "The most important reason for that catastrophe is that continental hauliers pay, on average, 25p per litre less in fuel duty than we do. We pay the highest in the EU." | |
| Police say about 300 lorries took part in the protest in May, and organisers of Wednesday's event say more are expected this time. | Police say about 300 lorries took part in the protest in May, and organisers of Wednesday's event say more are expected this time. |
| Are you a lorry driver? Will you be attending the protest? Send us your comments using the form below: | |
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