THE organiser of a fuel protest which attracted only 11

vehicles believes the poor turnout reflects the fact that many

haulage firms have resigned themselves to closure.

Brian Willoughby, who runs garage repair business BMR

Automotive, in Langley Mill, was expecting about 40 vehicles to

take part in Saturday's go-slow protest.

But only five lorries and six cars turned up.

The 53-year-old said his company faced closure because of

the increasing cost of fuel and that others in the county faced

a bleak future.

“Companies have resigned themselves to closure. They have

been beaten into submission,” he said.

“They think there is no point in taking part in protests

like this because no-one will take notice.

“We ran a similar protest in June and we had more than 30

vehicles but I think that people now believe that the

Government are not going to do anything about the prices.

“It has been a disappointing turnout. We have to start

somewhere, though, and we are planning further protests in the

future.”

Saturday's convoy started at Trowell Services on the

southbound side of the M1, at 10am, and was flanked by police

cars from the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire forces.

The convoy travelled at 40mph along the inside lane of the

motorway before coming off at junction 25.

It then headed along the A52 and the A61 before travelling

north on the A38 and back to the M1.

Other drivers showed their support for the protest by

beeping horns and flashing lights as they passed the

convoy.