Kirby Misperton fracking: Further arrests outside fracking site

A group of protesters were moved from the site gates before they blocked the road

Further arrests have been made during protests outside a shale gas fracking site in North Yorkshire.

About 20 people had been moved from the site gates in Kirby Misperton before they sat down on the road at about 10:30 BST.

A 53-year-old man, a 23-year-old man, a 54-year-old woman and a second woman have been arrested, said police.

The four arrests come after three men were detained near the scene on Tuesday, two of whom were cautioned.

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Third Energy was initially given planning permission to operate on the site in May 2016.

It has not received final consent to begin fracking but expects to start before the end of the year.

The 53-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wilful obstruction of a highway and having an article with intent to destroy or damage property.

The second man was arrested on suspicion of wilful obstruction of a highway.

The 54-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of wilful obstruction of a highway, with the second woman on suspicion of obstructing a person engaged in lawful activity and possessing a bladed article in a public place.

All remain in custody.

Protesters were trying to stop more lorries getting to the plant

After Tuesday's arrests, North Yorkshire Police said a 69-year-old man accepted a caution for obstructing a police officer and a 23-year-old man accepted a caution for wilfully obstructing a highway.

A 33-year-old man was released without charge.

About 60 people demonstrated at the entrance of the site on Tuesday as the first equipment required for fracking arrived.

Supt Lindsey Robson said: "We'll continue to take a neighbourhood policing approach to protests - that means we will talk to people, to explain what is acceptable in terms of safety and reasonableness, and ask them to work with us to make this a safe and peaceful protest.

"We would rather talk to people and persuade them to move, than have to make arrests."

Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at rock to release the gas inside.

Opponents say it can cause water contamination, earthquakes and noise and traffic pollution.

But Shaun Zablocki, one of the managers at the site, said the area would benefit from the work.

"There are jobs and energy stability which can be gained from this project and all the concerns can be addressed through engineering and safe mitigation," he said.

The KM8 well at Kirby Misperton was sunk in 2013