Drivers faced delays today (July 4) as many people took part in a rolling roadblock on the M5 as part of a petrol price protest.

A slow-moving roadblock was rolled out on the M5 between Bridgwater and the Almondsbury Interchange from about 8.30am.

The protest was organised by the Stand Up To Fuel Prices South West M4/M5 group.

Before the event, Mike, one of the organisers, said: “Obviously the main reason is the cost of over £2 a litre, it’s ridiculous.

“The fact that they blame the war in Ukraine is not a valid point. When we had Covid, a barrel of fuel cost more than it does now but they were able to get the cost down.

“Companies are making billions in profit. What we want is the cost of the fuel to be brought down and then obviously help people with the cost of living. Everyone just had enough.”

The protest started at junction 24 and then moved towards the M4 and the M32 (junction 1) to finish in Taunton.

The rolling roadblock exited junction 25 at Taunton at 2.28pm.

The group blocked all three lanes of the motorway but the hard shoulder was left open for emergency vehicles.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he will carefully consider calls for a “more substantial” fuel duty decrease after the 5p-per-litre reduction implemented in March failed to halt price rises.
The Government said that, while it understands that people are struggling with rising prices and have a right to protest, “people’s day-to-day lives should not be disrupted” and warned that traffic delays “will only add to fuel use”.