THE FIRST meeting of a group opposing fracking in York was held this week.

Frack Free Strensall held its inaugural meeting at Strensall Village Hall on Tuesday, with more than 100 people present and the hall so full, some had to be turned away.

Talks were given by Simon Bowens from Friends of the Earth, and Andy Gheorghiu from Food and Water Watch, on fracking and the background of INEOS, the company licensed to frack in the Strensall Area. Representatives from Frack Free Ryedale, who are opposing the KM8 site at Kirby Misperton, were also present.

Tony Fisher, who organised the meeting, said: "We never dreamed so many would turn up. We booked the largest room available and we simply couldn’t get any more people in."

Martina Hinds, who organised the meeting with Tony, said: "The fact that so many turned up shows that there is real concern about the effects of fracking on Strensall and the wider area. We are not scaremongering. Fracking will come to the area if we don’t make our voices heard."

For details of upcoming meetings go to facebook.com/groups/frackfreestrensall