The Brexit protesters threatening to blockade Anglesey's Holyhead Port

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A fuel protest leader today threatened to blockade Holyhead Port if the Government fails to come up with "a clear path through" Brexit tonight.

Ian Charlesworth, who runs the newly-created 970-strong Brexit Protest and Direct Action Group facebook page, warned patience with the Government was running out and his group would "show the EU what a hard border is".

The 55-year-old from Deeside was a prominent campaigner at the Stanlow Oil refinery protests against rising fuel prices and go-slow drives along the A55, M56 and M53 in 2011.

Mr Charlesworth also played a role in the 2000 Stanlow fuel protests led by farmer Brynle Williams, who later became a North Wales AM.

He said his new group was also prepared to blockade other key locations across the UK in protest at Parliament's handling of Brexit.

And he claimed it would take only four vehicles to block Holyhead's port, which are poised to go at short notice - potentially bringing traffic to the Irish Republic to a standstill.

MPs vote tonight on whether to ask the European Union for a Brexit extension after Prime Minister Theresa May and the Government suffered damaging defeats in the Commons this week in her attempts to get her deal through.

Mr Charlesworth said the Facebook group, which includes former fuel protesters, will take action if Parliament still appears gridlocked following tonight's vote.

"What we are looking for tonight after the vote is if there is a clear path through to get this resolved once and for all", he said.

"People just want a decision whether is it positive or negative, so we know where we are going and can get on with it.

"But if we have a repeat of the same shambles we had last night and it appears there is still deadlock - we have this cat and mouse game going on - and no clear idea what is happening, then we will take action.

"We will show the EU what a hard border is and how easy it is to set one up and it will only need four vehicles to blockade Holyhead Port, which is one of the main trading routes with the EU.

"If we take action we will let medical supplies and farm animals through, but the purpose of the blockade will be to put pressure for the Government and MPs to come up with a solution and sort this out. Do they want Theresa May's deal or not, or do we walk away.

"People are tired and fed up with it and want a resolution."

Mr Charlesworth claimed many former fuel protesters were on board and hundreds could get involved.

A spokeswoman for North Wales Police said: “North Wales Police continue to work closely with partner agencies and port operators in relation to the EU Exit.

"We will always seek to facilitate the right to peaceful protest, balancing it against disruption to local communities. We will work with protest organisers to achieve this.”

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