FUEL protestors who staged a demonstration at Stanlow Oil Refinery in February have today taken their fight to the House of Commons as petrol prices soar.

Average fuel prices have gone past the 132p a litre mark, meaning that for the first time the cost has reached £6 a gallon, the AA said.

Speaking from outside the House this afternoon, Ian Charlesworth, Stanlow protest leader, told the Globe: "This rise in fuel prices is totally unacceptable.

"We are now knocking on the doors of the Houses of Parliament and we want direct action taken.

"We are fighting our corner and we are asking why people are paying far less in London for fuel than we are in the North West?"

Mr Charlesworth has recently had to make several redundancies in his own construction supply firm - including family members - as profits fail to keep up with rocketing costs.

He claims the fightback against fuel increases is growing by the day and that his group "Fuel Protest UK" are stronger than ever.

He said they will be "taking unplanned action" tomorrow evening - but would not disclose exactly what this action involves.

He and his fellow protestors are also holding another demonstration at Stanlow this coming Friday.

The average price of petrol at the pumps is now 132.12p a litre, while diesel has also hit a new record at 137.92p a litre.

A snapshot survey by the Globe reveals the cost of filling up in parts of Wirral is more than keeping pace with spiralling national prices.

Taurus service station in Bebington is charging 135.9p per litre for petrol, and a huge 145.9p for a litre of diesel.

Murco service station in Wallasey's prices are 132p a litre for petrol and 138p for diesel.

A litre of petrol from Total in Thingwall will set you back 130.9p, while diesel is 136.9 a litre.

Shell garages in Moreton and Birkenhead are currently charging 129.9p per litre of petrol and 136p for diesel.

According to the AA, a year ago a litre of petrol on average cost 114.30p and diesel was 115.30p.

AA president Edmund King said: "£6 a gallon is not just another milestone along the road to higher fuel prices, it marks the point at which the wheels start to come off mobility in 21st-century UK.

"Lower-income drivers, poorer rural residents, volunteer drivers, youngsters looking to their first jobs are some of the vulnerable groups struggling to stay on the road."