A GO-SLOW fuel protest which started from this area bound for North Wales has been hailed a success.

About 70 vehicles left the Hapsford Services on the M56 on Friday morning, heading along the A5117 and the M53 for Colwyn Bay, to deliver a petition to the Welsh Assembly’s transport office demanding action over soaring petrol prices.

By the time they arrived at lunchtime the convoy was about 100-150 strong.

The protest was organised by fed-up motorists Mark Waterworth and Gwil Ritchie, of Rhyl, who jointly set up an action group on the Facebook networking website last month called Fuel Protest 2008 North West UK and Wales, which now has over 9,000 members.

Mr Waterworth, 36, who has to make a 160-mile round trip between his pubs in Rhyl and Stoke, said: “I’m over the moon. I can’t believe the support we’ve had. The convoy must have been a mile- long by the time we reached Colwyn Bay.

“We’ll sit down now and plan the next protest. It could be Saturday, July 19 but I can’t say for definite. I’m sure the route will take in Cheshire and North Wales again.”

The majority of those who took part in Friday’s protest were ordinary motorists struggling to cope with rising fuel prices and Mr Waterworth hopes the Government will start to take note.

He added: “Everybody is struggling and something needs to be done.”

Gwil Ritchie, 38, who runs an equine recovery business, said: “This protest is something for the general public to participate in. From smaller businesses to housewives, we’re all affected. Hopefully it will make a difference.”