Man held in fracking protest is released

A MAN who was arrested on suspicion of possessing ammunition for a firearm in Kirby Misperton has been released.

Protests have been taking place in the North Yorkshire village over Third Energy’s fracking plans.

The man was arrested at about 2.25pm on Wednesday on Habton Road. A suspected bullet was seized.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman yesterday said: “A 54-year-old man arrested on suspicion of possessing ammunition for a firearm has been released under investigation while police enquiries continue.”

The arrested man was one of six held for various offences including assaulting a police officer and obstructing the highway at Kirby Misperton.

There has been a long-running protest by environmental campaigners. Police say they have a duty to ensure the safety of everyone involved in protests at Kirby Misperton.

The news comes after the Environment Agency approved plans for an energy company to use the controversial fracking technique, meaning fracking in Yorkshire moved a step closer today.

The government agency revealed that it had given the green light to Third Energy’s plan for its well site at Kirby Misperton after what it described as a “thorough assessment”.

Separately, a specialist piece of equipment known as a ‘workover rig’ was this week delivered to the site between Norton and Pickering, where campaigners have been holding a long-running ‘protection camp’ in a bid to prevent fracking from taking place.