A Co Tyrone business boss has said he expects more fuel protests to follow unless prices drop.

Keith Gladney, owner of Errigal Plant Hire Centre in Ballygawley, said that some of his staff were manning vehicles as part of the Ballygawley roundabout protest yesterday, “venting their anger” along with people in “a couple of hundred” other vehicles.

The convoy performed a go-slow drive around the two roundabouts at Ballygawley, with similar scenes having unfolded on the Sydenham Bypass in Belfast and the M1 at Sprucefield, among other locations.

It is still unclear exactly where the call for the day’s protests came from; no group or individual has claimed responsibility.

placeholder image — Traffic at the Ballygawley roundabouts during Tuesday's fuel protest; Mr Gladney's workers were among those in the convoy

"I think the politicians and governments aren’t listening, north or south,” said Mr Gladney.

“I think people are being pushed to the brink.

"You can see the pain on everyone’s face at the moment. Costs are crippling.”

He said their own fuel bill has soared by perhaps £8,000 to £10,000 per month – a cost he is reluctant to pass on to customers, lest it lead to less business.

His problems with the government go deeper than just fuel costs; for example, he cited the £333bn annual spending on benefits by the UK government, exceeding the amount of revenue from income tax.

“It shows as a country, we’re going nowhere,” he said.

"You’re being rewarded for not working, and when you’re working, you’re being crippled with tax.”

As to whether he foresees more protests, he said: “I think if fuel prices don’t come down, this is going to continue.

"Because from a farming aspect, you’ve contractors on their knees.

"You have sileage season about to kick off, and I’d say the contractors are having nightmares going to bed about how they’re going to fund the whole campaign.”

The PSNI have handed out penalties and cautions to people who took part in Tuesday’s various gatherings, though Mr Gladney said that none have come the way of his firm, "yet”.

The News Letter is aware of a planned protest in Strabane, this Saturday.

There had been one in the town last Saturday, organised by the people who are behind the Strabane Area Fuel Protest Facebook page.

The News Letter has asked them for further details about the upcoming one, and a response is awaited.

Meanwhile the Newry-based Facebook page Church Street Community has circulated information saying that more protests are planned for next Friday, at 4pm, at the following locations:

Tesco distribution centre, Boucher Road, Belfast;

Asda distribution centre, Larne;

T-junction, Westbank Road, Belfast Port;

Lidl distribution centre, Nutts Corner;

P&O, Larne Harbour;

Seatruck, Warrenpoint;

Belfast International Airport;

And the oil terminals at Airport Road and Airport Road West, east Belfast.

When asked if it is organising the protests, one of those running the page replied that they were “nothing to do with the page”, and they had “just shared information” that originated elsewhere.

A poster bearing the same information has appeared on the Facebook pages of the Protestant Coalition (www.facebook.com/officialprotestantcoalition) and Benburb cattle breeder Redhouse Holsteins (www.facebook.com/RedhouseHolsteins).

Asked where these details came from, the latter replied: “No idea, just got it sent to me. I have nothing to do with the organisation of them.”

The Protestant Coalition has been asked the same question.

So far, at least seven mooted protests have failed to materialise.