Gwil Ritchie and Mark Waterworth organised the convoy of around 50
vehicles, including HGVs, cars, vans, caravans and motorbikes, which set
off from Chester Services headed for the Black Cat roundabout in
Llandudno Junction, passing through Colwyn Bay just after 1.15pm.

Mr Ritchie, 38, wants a reduction in tax on petrol, he said: "The disruption was no worse than a bank holiday weekend. The bridges were packed with people waving and clapping. People are behind us.
There have been a number of protests for the hauliers and haulage businesses, but this is the first one for the ordinary person in the
street."

The convoy stayed in the inside lane of the expressway travelling at around 30mph with one vehicle displaying a sign asking 'Are
you listening Gordon?'

A small number of vehicles left the main convoy at Junction 20 to deliver a 800-signature petition calling for a stop to the rising price of petrol to the Welsh Assembly offices on Dinerth Road, Rhos on Sea before rejoining the protest on the
return leg to Chester.

Pensioner Brian Hughes from Old Colwyn came to support the protest and
watched from a bridge spanning the A55, he said: "I've come here to support them. The cost is hitting a lot of purses, people are going out of business and that will lead to unemployment. It's really affecting
people's pockets. I support this protest and I will support
more in the future."

It was expected the protest would be much larger after almost 9,000 supporters joined a group set up by the organisers on the social networking site Facebook.

Superintendent Barry Jones, the police commander in charge of the protest, said: "Minimum disruption was caused to members of
the public and I am grateful for their patience and the cooperation of the demonstration organisers."

A second protest on Saturday, July 19 has been announced with a convoy planning to leave North East Wales and travel to Liverpool via the Runcorn bridge.

Have your say on this story by commenting below.
Registration is free, fast, and easy to do.