Andrew Spence: "Convoy is still strong"

Police are planning to set up an exclusion zone around London, and protesters may have to park outside the capital and take public transport, preventing a repeat of the traffic chaos when they last drove into the city.

But a hardcore of demonstrators are determined to continue the protest and reach the capital.

Organiser Andrew Spence said on Saturday that the convoy was still strong, and disputed that numbers were disappointing.

"Today has been for the public to show their feelings," he said.

War of words

"It's been better than I thought it would be today. The same 25 that started from Newcastle are mostly still with us, and coming down I was very, very, impressed with the people - a lot of them were driving past waving and a few were hanging out of their windows wishing us well.

"A lot of drivers have joined us for 10 minutes or half-an-hour and as long as the convoy remains strong, which it is, it is doing what we want."

The police have been very, very heavy handed. They're doing it because they've been told to from above

John Coxon, protest leader

More than 50 lorry drivers from Wales are expected to meet up with the convoy on Monday.

Mr Spence was involved in a war of words with fellow fuel campaign leader Brynle Williams who said the convoy was counter-productive given the �1bn concessions made to hauliers by Chancellor Gordon Brown.

"He is full of hot air," said Mr Spence. "He has sold us down the river."

On Saturday, the convoy was 24 hours ahead of schedule having been unable to gain access to Manchester or Leeds city centre.

It has also been forced by the police to move quicker than they anticipated.

The campaigners have accused the police of heavy-handedness.

North and West Yorkshire police forces kept the convoy away from flood-hit areas and preventing further disruption.

Protest leader, farmer John Coxon, said: "The police have been very, very heavy handed.

"They're doing it because they've been told to from above - we're very disillusioned at the way we've been treated."

The convoy follows a 60-day moratorium laid down by the protesters after the September oil refinery blockades.

Click here to return