Hundreds of bikers are causing rush-hour chaos in protest at soaring petrol prices.

They gathered at Birch services on the M62 north of Manchester before heading off in a slow-moving convoy.

The demonstration of up to 1,000 bikers was organised by motorcycling groups and was also joined by some taxi and lorry drivers.

Police stopped traffic on the motorway before the bikers left the service station, bound for Salford.

The Highways Agency warned motorists to find alternative routes if possible.

It is the latest in a long line of fuel protests and comes as some Labour backbenchers joined a chorus of voices warning Prime Minister Gordon Brown not to go ahead with a planned 2p increase in fuel duty this autumn.

AA figures show around half of every £1.15 litre of petrol is made up of tax and VAT.

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