Hundreds of bikers were cheered on by drivers as they brought roads to a standstill in the North West today in protest against the soaring cost of fuel.

More than 500 motorbike riders revved off in convoy from a service station outside Manchester at 8am and staged a “go-slow” demonstration against escalating prices at the petrol pump. Onlookers – and even those caught in the disruption – applauded in support as they sat in the major tailbacks on the M62 and M60 around Greater Manchester caused by the protest.

The Highways Agency warned motorists to find alternative routes but most did not seem too put out by the added journey time and seemed to be enjoying the spectacle.

Roads into the city were severely jammed as a series of rolling road blocks put in place by the Highways Agency and aimed at curtailing the protest served only to lengthen the delays. One organiser said onlookers were getting out of their cars to wave and take pictures of the bikers. “They’ve embraced this traffic jam today, that’s what we wanted,” he said.

The bikers are heading for Salford Quays. Michael Clearly, 56, a Salford garage owner, said: “I think it’s brilliant. It’s a pity they’re not blocking off Downing Street and London too.”

The demonstration was the latest in a string of fuel price protests across the country as Labour backbenchers called on Gordon Brown to scrap plans for a 2p increase in fuel duty this autumn.

One of the organisers, a 24-year-old known only as 'Maverick' said: "Too many people are happy just to sit watching the news and to accept the fact that fuel prices and taxes are going up."

With average prices for a litre of unleaded petrol and diesel now about 114p and 126p respectively motorbike clubs in the north arranged the protest via the internet and word of mouth.

"We've decided that we can make a change and that we're going to do something about it”, 'Maverick' told the Manchester Evening News, “We're going to be that voice that stands up and fights back. We'll make a difference."

The latest figures from the RAC indicate that 67.2 per cent of every litre of petrol consists of tax and VAT.

A national fuel protest is planned for June 22 when vehicles of all kinds will take to roads across the country for a “peaceful driving protest” organised via the social networking website Facebook.

Money Central: Ten easy ways to drive down your petrol costs

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