A convoy of lorries has reduced traffic to a snail's pace in protest against rising fuel prices, with video footage showing vehicles crawling along at 5mph.
The lorries are travelling along the A1 motorway as part of a 'go slow' demonstration organised by Andrew Spence, who is leading the protestors up the A1 and into Newcastle today (Saturday 20 November).
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Spence, a farmer who also organised Fuel Lobby protesters at the Shell UK plant in Jarrow in both 2000 and 2005, is calling for a cap on fuel costs.
The 54-year-old told the Northern Echo earlier this week: "A few farmers have got together and been talking about the price of fuel and it is killing us.
"I put it out there and the response has been unbelievable.
"There are people who are saying they have to buy fuel, heat the house or buy food.
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"I put the protest idea out on Facebook and by the end of the day I had 6,000 views. It has absolutely snowballed.
"If half the people turn out who said they will it will be bigger than the one we did in 2000 when we completely encircled Newcastle city centre."
He added that the vehicles - which include cars, lorries, coaches, tractors and taxis - will be travelling at 5mph, but would make way for emergency services.
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In an update on Facebook, posted yesterday morning, Spence said the fuel protest would involve 'no hostility'.
"There's no plans for blockades," he said.
"There's nobody going to glue their hands to the A1."
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Spence said he and others just wanted to 'make a public notice to the government'.
He continued: "We're hurting - badly. It's not just every month [fuel prices are] going up, it's sometimes every day.
"How can you budget? How can you make a plan? How can you make a business plan? How can you make a household bill plan? When fuel goes up literally the way it is."
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The RAC has also called on supermarkets to 'do the right thing', with company fuel spokesperson Simon Williams saying the current set up is 'very harsh on drivers'.
He said: "In the last few days the wholesale price of petrol has fallen steeply, which means the biggest retailers are in a great position to cut prices and ease the burden being felt by drivers throughout the UK who are paying £80 for a full 55-litre tank.
"As the big four supermarkets are responsible for selling 45% of all the country's fuel, they are constantly buying new supply so they're able to pass on the savings to customers straightaway - unlike smaller retailers who tend only to buy in fuel once a fortnight."
Featured Image Credit: NCJ Media