POLICE have threatened to prosecute a convoy of protesters who illegally blocked the M65 with tractors on Tuesday night.

About 100 farm vehicles and lorries took part in the motorway crawl from Colne to Burnley, causing widespread traffic chaos.

But one of the organisers has defended the action, saying that local farmers are in danger of going out of business because of high fuel prices. Sgt Steve Good said: "We will take appropriate steps to bring offenders before the courts. It is not necessary to stop people who are breaking the law there and then in order to bring about a prosecution.

"Certain vehicles are strictly prohibited from using the motorways for very good reasons. Our main concern is the safety of all road users and our priority is to try and ensure that these protests do not cause unnecessary dangers."

But Graham Guy said some of them had nothing to lose in campaigning and that was why so many had readily joined in the motorway protest.

Mr Guy, whose family have a beef and sheep farm and a haulage business in Skipton Old Road, Colne, said: "Fuel prices have just rocketed for the agricultural industry, almost tripling in 12 months.

"On top of other problems, such as the low price paid to dairy farmers for milk, it is the straw which could break the camel's back. It was fairly spontaneous action, not something planned over weeks. It was just something I felt needed to be done. I believe and hope the protests will carry on until the Government gets the message.

"Although Mr Blair is talking tough, I think his body language indicates that he is rattled and is running scared."