Disruption was kept to a minimum on the county's major roads as a convoy of 30 angry lorry drivers launched a protest.

Drivers set off in convoy from Harwich to demonstrate against controversial fuel prices and vehicle tax.

The protest comes after more than 1,500 drivers blocked London's Park Lane in the same plight.

Fewer lorries than expected set off along the A120 at 10am on Saturday.

The protest saw lorries travelling at less than 30mph south-bound along the A12 to the M25 at Brentwood.

It was agreed the drivers would stay in a single convoy and travel in the slow lane. The convoy was at times around a mile-and-a-half in length causing some tailbacks but not too much congestion.

Essex police changed their vow not to help the convoy on to the M25 in one piece.

Around lunchtime, the traffic lights at junction 28 of the M25 were altered to allow the whole convoy onto the motorway from the A12.

A police spokeswoman said: "In the interest of public safety, we allowed the convoy through together. The roads were greasy due to the weather, so assistant Chief Con Jeffrey Markham made the decision to facilitate the move."

The journey up the M11 to junction eight at Stansted Airport was completed before the convoy turned around and returned to Harwich. The last lorries reached Harwich at 5pm.

The spokeswoman said: "No major disruption was reported along the route."

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