TWO men have been arrested on suspicion of poisoning a guard dog at a fracking site in Ryedale.

North Yorkshire Police said a 42-year-old man was arrested by police officers at 1.30pm yesterday in Kirby Misperton "on suspicion of administering poison to an animal, and causing criminal damage to an animal".

A 61-year-old man was arrested on a bus at Tadcaster Bus Station at 2.50pm "on suspicion of causing criminal damage to an animal", in connection with the same incident, the force added.

A police spokesman said that police had been told that a number of pellets were thrown over the fence into the fracking site yesterday morning.

"A guard dog at the site had eaten some of the pellets, been sick and collapsed," they said. "The dog was taken to a vet for treatment."

They added that several pellets were seized from the fracking site.

Both men have been released on bail, with a condition to stay away from an area around the site gates, as inquiries continue.

A spokesperson for the Kirby Misperton Protectors Group disputed the accusation of poisoning.

“Yesterday two protectors were arrested under suspicion of poisoning a guard dog at KM8,” they said.

“They were held for several hours and a search of a caravan and vehicle were conducted. Both protectors have been released without charge.”