Angry hauliers yesterday threatened a campaign of disruption and warned of crippling strike action in Scotland unless the Government acts to ease the high cost of fuel.

More than 80 trucks travelled in convoy from Glasgow to Edinburgh yesterday to demand action to combat the high cost of fuel.

Angry taxi drivers also joined the hauliers on the M8 complaining that their fuel costs have gone up by £30 a week in recent months.

The drivers staged a go-slow protest through Edinburgh before arriving at the Scottish Parliament where they handed in a letter to Stewart Stevenson, the Scottish Transport Minister .

The protest organiser, David McCutcheon, gave warning that hauliers would step up their demonstrations unless the Government steps in. “At the moment we have asked that this be a peaceful protest and you have seen it has been very much a peaceful protest,” he said.

“But that will not continue if things are not done to change the situation. You are talking about disruption - coming out at seven in the morning and going into the centre of towns.

“That's what will happen. There could even be a strike, but that's down to individual hauliers.”

Yesterday's protest was organised to start at 9am in an attempt to minimise disruption to other road users, but the hauliers gave warning that if their demands were not met, future protest action could begin at 7am during the rush hour with the aim to cause chaos on Scotland's roads.

Mr McCutcheon, who is managing director of the haulage firm Bullet Express, said that his company was having to pay an additional £125,000 a year for fuel as a result of the increase in prices in recent months.

One of the trucks displayed a sign which read: “I'm no fuel fool.” Another read: “Broon back doon”.

Drivers travelling in the opposite direction through the capital yesterday sounded their horns in support of the demonstration.

The truckers are demanding an essential rebate scheme similar to the one which covers the bus and ferry industries.

Jim Macaulay, who runs Cadzow Heavy Haulage, said: “This is not just a bunch of truck drivers looking after their own ends. We're out to fight the cost of fuel which is affecting the whole Scottish and UK economy. It is the man on the street who is having to pay through the nose.”

Bill McIntosh, of the Scottish Taxi Federation, claimed that taxi drivers were also being badly hit. He said: “In terms of fuel costs alone, over the last six months or so it has increased by 25 times - £30 per week, per driver.”

The Scottish government has already let it be known that it wants the UK Government to announce that it will suspend the proposed 2p increase on fuel duty due in the autumn as a result of the higher fuel costs and the introduction of a fuel duty regulator.

Mr Stevenson told the protesters that he would press their case with the Westminster Government.

Mr Stevenson said: “We will make sure this message gets across. We are on the case.”

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