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Convoy in protest at fuel prices Convoy in protest at fuel prices
(about 8 hours later)
Hundreds of vehicles are forming a fuel protest convoy from Gateshead to Durham to highlight the plight of cabbies, driving instructors and hauliers. Organisers say 200 vehicles formed a fuel protest convoy from Gateshead to highlight the plight of cabbies, driving instructors and hauliers.
About 500 vehicles were leaving the Team Valley industrial estate on Thursday morning and travelling in a slow-moving convoy to Durham. The vehicles left the Team Valley industrial estate on Thursday morning and travelled in a slow-moving convoy to Durham.
Twenty drivers are to continue on to London, where an 800-name petition will be handed in at 10 Downing Street. Fifteen drivers continued on to London, where an 800-name petition will be handed in at 10 Downing Street.
Organiser Bert Moncur urged the government to cut fuel duty.Organiser Bert Moncur urged the government to cut fuel duty.
Mr Moncur, a driving instructor from Seaham in County Durham, said: "Something has to be done to highlight the last six months of misery with fuel price rises.Mr Moncur, a driving instructor from Seaham in County Durham, said: "Something has to be done to highlight the last six months of misery with fuel price rises.
'Freeze prices''Freeze prices'
"We can't sit back and do nothing. We have to come off the fence and say enough is enough and maybe Gordon Brown and his team will listen to us for a change."We can't sit back and do nothing. We have to come off the fence and say enough is enough and maybe Gordon Brown and his team will listen to us for a change.
"We want Gordon Brown to reduce fuel duty by 50% and ask the oil companies to freeze their prices at the pump as of now.""We want Gordon Brown to reduce fuel duty by 50% and ask the oil companies to freeze their prices at the pump as of now."
Mr Moncur said his fuel costs had risen by at least £2,000 since the start of the year.Mr Moncur said his fuel costs had risen by at least £2,000 since the start of the year.
The convoy was leaving Gateshead at about 0930 BST, travelling down the A1 to the A1231 at Washington, before travelling a short distance on the A19, then the A690 into Durham. The convoy left Gateshead at about 0930 BST, headed down the A1, then travelled a short distance on the A19, before joining the A690 into Durham.
Ray Holloway of the Petrol Retailers Association said he hoped to see prices at the pump begin to come down in coming weeks as world oil markets stabilised.Ray Holloway of the Petrol Retailers Association said he hoped to see prices at the pump begin to come down in coming weeks as world oil markets stabilised.