Bikers' anger at fuel demo route

The riders say they were stopped from going into Cardiff city centre

About 80 motorbike riders who took part in a fuel protest along the M4 are angry after police stopped them from using an agreed route.

The riders, who met at Pont Abraham near Swansea, say they had agreed with police for 20 bikers out of the group to travel into Cardiff city centre.

But they were stopped from going into the city centre by officers.

South Wales Police said they were stopped after failing to tell officers which riders were going into the city.

A spokeswoman, known as Hamster, from the Welsh Bikers group said she was "miffed" at what she described as a "ridiculous situation".

"We had informed the police of what we were doing and on the day agreed with an officer from South Wales Police that around 15 to 20 riders out of the protest would be allowed to ride into the city centre, go past the castle and come back out," she said

The group said they had agreed with police that only 20 riders would go into Cardiff city centre

"I even shook hands with the officer to make that deal before we set off."

But she said as the protest approached on the link between the motorway and Cardiff Bay, the riders selected to drive past the castle were prevented from entering the city by police.

"It was very disappointing and to be honest people who took part in the protest have completely lost faith in the police," said Hamster.

"We thought if we were open with the police and told them what we were planning to do they would be fair to us. But they weren't."

But South Wales Police said the bikers were stopped because they had not told the force which riders would travel into the city centre.

A spokesman for the force said: "South Wales Police agreed for a number of riders to go into Cardiff city centre in order to facilitate their peaceful protest on the condition they informed us of the nominated riders in advance.

"This they failed to do."

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