[T]hree people are in custody in connection with an incident which blocked the centre of Kirby Misperton this morning.
At about 9.10am, two men climbed on top of a tanker as it drove along Main Street, near the roundabout in the centre of the village.
A police team with specialist training and equipment had to be deployed to remove one of the men.
Due to the incident, Main Street in Kirby Misperton was completely blocked to traffic until about 12.30pm. Police officers assisted motorists to find other routes. Local residents were able to access their homes on foot.
A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of tampering with a vehicle, after he climbed on top of the tanker and refused to come down for about three hours.
A 56-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of obstructing the highway, after he climbed on to the same tanker and came down a short time later.
A 27-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of obstructing the highway, after she stood in the road in front of a vehicle.
After the man came down, the tanker continued on to the hydraulic fracturing site on Habton Road.
Local neighbourhood police officers continue to be active in Kirby Misperton and surrounding villages, speaking to residents and addressing any concerns about disruption.
Superintendent Alisdair Dey, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “This protest activity had a significant impact on people living and working in Kirby Misperton this morning.
“We will support the right of people to assemble and protest peacefully, but once the balance tips from peaceful protest to deliberate, unlawful acts that cause unreasonable disruption to the local community, then we will take action.”
