CHANCELLOR George Osborne said he sympathises with the burden of rising fuel costs on Chester residents.

During his visit to the Airbus plant in Broughton the Conservative MP told the Chronicle: “I completely understand that the price of petrol is a real burden on families and businesses.”

Mr Osborne, MP for Tatton, said that the rising cost was down to an increase in the price of oil.

“You only have to turn on the television to see what is happening in the Middle East. It has pushed the oil prices up.”

A double A55 fuel protest is planned on May 8. Protest leaders Kevin Bowker from Saltney Ferry and Ian Charlesworth of Hawarden, have organised two convoys, which will converge on Rhyl to protest about rising costs. One will go west from Chester and another east from Llandudno.

Mr Osborne said he had cut fuel duty in his recent Budget in an effort to help motorists.

“I cut fuel duty to try and shield people from the effects of rising prices. No government in the world is able to control the price of oil.” Average UK pump prices are now 135.79p a litre for petrol and 141.99p for diesel.