Petrol protesters caused 12-mile and nine-mile tailbacks on the M62 after blocking the motorway between Bradford and Leeds last night.

West Yorkshire Police received a catalogue of complaints from distressed motorists after the westbound and eastbound carriageways between Birstall and Cleckheaton was completely blocked by protesters.

Police said that problems were caused when protesters breached agreed guidelines, which set down limits on the nature of protest convoys.

Instead, ad-hoc protesters joined in with the official protest which started at 4pm yesterday on the westbound and eastbound sections of the M62 between junction 26 and 27 and lasted until midnight.

As a result, motorists trapped in the congestion caused a flood of distress calls to the authorities.

But Inspector Brian Pearson, of the West Yorkshire Motorway Unit, said many car drivers joined the protest voluntarily and members of the public also lined the route cheering their support from motorway bridges.

He said: "In the main the public appeared to be supporting the action by the hauliers.

"We had two official protests which started from the Heartshead and Wooley Edge services but a large majority of wagon drivers and in some cases car drivers joined in on their own accord.

"There was a 12-mile tailback on the West-bound carriageway of the M62 and a nine-mile tailback on the East-bound carriageway but the M606 was relatively unaffected."