Deliveroo workers protest in Aylesbury town centre over pay and work conditions

Forming a convoy the food delivery drivers, who have come into their own during the various lockdowns over the course of the pandemic, sounded their horns and gathered in Market Square.

The Bucks Herald spoke to several Deliveroo drivers to find out what they were protesting against.

One worker, who did not wish to be named, said: "We are being asked to do more and more for less.

"When I started this job, we were taking home around £11 to £12 per hour. But this year, conditions have deteriorated so much that we would be lucky to take home £6.

"They make the conditions worse and worse, then just hire more drivers on the assumption that someone will always do the job, even if it costs them money.

"They are exploiting us, it's not fair."

Another Deliveroo rider, Gabriel, who has worked for the company for more than two years, said they have also been asked to cover double the area that they did last year, with no adjustments in pay.

The order system Deliveroo uses has also been a sore point for many of their drivers.

They operate a 'competition system', where drivers who deliver orders the quickest, get the most orders and therefore take home more money.

He said: "Deliveroo have decreased our payments for each order we deliver. We are now being asked to travel up to six miles for just three pounds.

"It doesn't even cover our petrol. Every day, they decrease our payments more and more - all the time hiring more drivers.

"It's a race to the bottom."

Gabriel says that Deliveroo have now hired so many drivers in the area that someone will always accept the £3 deliveries, despite the fact it will eventually end up costing the driver money.

He added that it was almost impossible to make a living wage working for the company.

Deliveroo says that their payments system is based on a 'distance algorithm'.

Gabriel continued: "For all the Aylesbury residents who may have been inconvenienced on Sunday, I'd like to apologise in advance to them.

"But we are angry, and wanted to show the town what we are being subjected to.

"After insurance, petrol and vehicle maintenance costs we are hardly making any money - and this is despite working 12 hour shifts every day, even Saturdays and Sundays.

"We hope the company will listen to our concerns."

It is not the first time Deliveroo riders have taken protest action.

Riders across the UK staged protests against changes in Deliveroo's pay structure back in 2019.

The Bucks Herald has contacted Deliveroo for a comment is is awaiting a response.