Fuel protesters head to Edinburgh

A convoy of 60 lorries is making its way along the M8 in a protest over the cost of fuel.

Around 40 more vehicles were expected to join the go-slow convoy as it travels from North Lanarkshire to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.

Protesters plan to hand a letter to Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson, asking him to urge the UK Government to reduce the duty on fuel.

It follows similar protests in Wales and London last month.

David McCutcheon, managing director of Bothwell-based haulier Bullet Express, organised the convoy.

He told the BBC that his company would have to pay an extra 150,000 for fuel this year and that other firms have been forced out of business due to rising costs.

'The industry is already struggling with the Working Time Directive and the normal cost of fuel,' he said. 'In the last year, the price of fuel has increased by 25% - it's a hefty blow.'

McCutcheon said the protest would be peaceful and was not designed to cause mass disruption.

He said lorries would travel in one lane of the motorway at normal speed, but would slow down to 15mph in Edinburgh.

Three trucks will then be escorted by police to the Scottish Parliament, where the letter will be handed to Mr Stevenson.