Fuel protestors blockade oil refinery

A demonstration against fuel prices has been staged outside one of the UK's largest oil refineries.

Around 600 vehicles, recruited through a campaign on Facebook, took part in a go-slow convoy along the M60 on the way to the Stanlow oil refinery at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire.

The Stanlow Fuel Protest and Direct Action Group planned to block the exits of the oil refinery to force the government to reduce fuel tax duty, with the group warning that pumps would run dry until demands were met.

Protestor Ian Charlesworth claimed that the demonstration had 'shut down' the refinery for 'a number of hours'.

However, the police confirmed that petrol tankers were able to come to and exit from the oil refinery freely, unaffected by the blockade.

This version of events was echoed by a spokesman for Shell, which runs Stanlow oil refinery.

"The protest today has had no effect on operations," he is reported to have said.