Fuel tax campaigners lobby MPs

Hundreds of protesters have braved heavy rain to take their campaign for fuel duty cuts to Parliament.

Pensioners, cabbies, van drivers and hauliers were among those taking to the streets to lobby Parliament ahead of this month's Budget.

Organised by the FairFuelUK group, the protest included the delivery of a key report to 10 Downing Street.

From the Centre for Economics and Business Research, the report said even a modest cut in fuel duty of 2.5p per litre would create 180,000 new jobs.

FairFuelUK founder Peter Carroll said: "It may have been wet but we have been heartened by the fact that hundreds have joined our protest.

"We are hopeful that Chancellor George Osborne will see sense and cut fuel duty in his Budget."

Geoff Dunning, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, said: "The findings of this report prove, without shadow of a doubt, that there is an achievable solution to regaining at least some stability as regards fuel prices."

The protest came after latest figures showed new record highs for petrol and diesel at the pumps, with petrol having reached 137.79p a litre and diesel 144.92p.

Another report last week showed that UK drivers were paying the highest fuel taxes in Europe.