TEA, BUT NO SYMPATHY

Jackie Brooks, 79, who has been serving tea and cakes to protesters at the Kirby Misperton fracking site, is moved from her table by police. North Yorkshire Police said officers took action because of fears a nearby tower of wooden pallets could collapse.

AN ELDERLY tea lady was forcibly moved from her table by police at the Kirby Misperton fracking site as the long-running protest by environmental campaigners continued.

Jackie Brooks, 79, has been at the site in North Yorkshire with her husband Jim for the last month, serving tea and cake to protesters and police.

According to North Yorkshire Police, she and other people were moved because of fears that a nearby 10ft tower made of wooden pallets might collapse.

The tower, where one of the protesters, known as Eddie, had been sitting for nearly a day was removed last night.

In a statement issued by the Kirby Misperton Protection Camp, the pensioner said: “I thought it was petty bullying, telling us that we could be crushed by that tower when we know darn well it’s as strong as it can be.”

Superintendent Lindsey Robson, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “We have a duty to ensure the safety of everyone involved in protests at Kirby Misperton.”

More than 20 people have been arrested at anti-fracking protests in Kirby Misperton, where Third Energy was granted permission to frack in 2016.

PICTURES: SIMON HULME. TROUBLE BREWING: Police move tea lady Jackie Brooks from her table at the Kirby Misperton fracking site to enable them to remove a pallet tower and arrest protester Eddie, above.