FUEL campaigners are planning a series of protests across the country's roads in the run up to the General Election.

Protestors, angry at the Government's "crippling" high taxes on fuel, are staging a series of go-slow convoys every day from Monday until Thursday.

The go-slow action will include members of the People's Fuel Lobby and Fuel Protest 2000 and is expected to include convoys on the streets of Newcastle.

Organisers last night said details were yet to be finalised, but said the protestors would mainly comprise hauliers because of the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

The action came as petrol giant Shell announced first quarter profits of £2.7bn.

The company saw profits for the quarter shoot up by 23 per cent on the same period last year, helped by high gas and oil prices.

County Durham farmer and fuel protestor Andrew Spence said the Shell profit was "very disappointing".

"The companies should be bringing the price of fuel down but Tony Blair and Gordon Brown should be substantially reducing the tax," said Mr Spence, who is standing against Prime Minister Tony Blair in his Sedgefield constituency.

"I personally feel the profit will pour petrol on the fire for the protestors."

Gateshead haulier Craig Eley, who is considering taking part in the action, said the Shell profits were "disgusting".

"The Government doesn't want to talk to the fuel companies because at the end of the day if they put prices up the Government gets more. But it's slowly killing our industry."

Shell came under fire last month when it raised petrol prices by 1p per litre at a number of its UK petrol stations, blaming the increased cost of refined oil on the open market. It eventually rolled out the price nationwide.

A spokeswoman said yesterday Shell's petrol forecourts had to cope with "very very weak" profit margins in an "extremely tough market".

Garry Russell, organiser of fuel tax campaign Dump the Pump, said: "The companies are profiteering at every juncture, from exploration to drilling and refining.

"What this calls for is more windfall taxes directed at the oil giants - they are profiteering hugely."