A Kent fuel campaigner will lead protestors descending on Parliament today against sky-high taxes and petrol pump prices.

Around 1,000 people, including members of motoring organisations and lorry drivers, are expected to arrive at Westminster to lobby MPs.

Peter Carroll, a Folkestone haulage boss and founder of Fair Fuel UK, is organising the rally.

Campaigners will also hand a report to 10 Downing Street explaining why the planned hike in fuel duty will actually damage the economy.

Mr Carroll believes the Chancellor should help hard-pressed motorists.

He said: "If he cut fuel duty he'd be no worse off because of the economic stimulus that would give.

"And yet we are very worried that message is not being heard and that they are going to soldier on and go ahead with what I think is bizarre - a 3p rise on August 3."

A litre of unleaded is now at a record high. The UK average is 137p a litre, beating last May's record.

Diesel now averages nearly 145p a litre.