AN anti-fracking protestor who boarded a lorry at the KMA fracking well-site on Habton Road yesterday was arrested.

The man jumped aboard the vehicle at around 1.50pm amid a ‘slow walk’ peaceful protest involving members of the protest community.

He spent much of the afternoon atop the vehicle.

Police later tweeted: "The man on top of the lorry at Kirby Misperton was brought down safely and arrested at about 5.40pm. He remains in custody at this time."

The man, who is a farmer in the district, had earlier spoken about the campaign and how all forms of protest are "valid".

He said: "Some people are writing great letters... some people are trawling through deadly dull planning documents. Some of you are working on the alternatives to fracking. Some of you are Bishops, reading our prayers. Some of you are children, helping to carve a pumpkin with an anti-fracking message.

"Some of you are musicians that sing and play the fiddle to keep our spirits up. Some of you are young and agile, and can climb 60 foot high towers. Some then find they are scared of heights and come back down, only to lock themselves to a metal tube in the road.

"These are all valid, worthwhile forms of protest, and they are all essential if we are going to win."

However, a newly-formed group calling themselves Ryedale Against Anti-Social Protestors (RAAP), criticised the protest.

A spokesperson said: "RAAP is deeply disappointed by the return to direct action protests at KM8, particularly after residents voiced their concerns about the effect of such actions on the locals  during recent television and radio coverage.

"We will continue to support the local community and police force at this time, and hope to see a return to lawful protest in order to free police resources and restore the levels of community policing the area requires."

RAAP describes itself as a "group formed to give a voice to residents affected by direct action protests around Third Energy's KM8 fracking operation."

It says its current membership stands at 800.

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The incident came during a period of what police said is "largely safe and peaceful protest activity".

Police even said that they've been able to "redeploy" officers to elsewhere in the area.

Before the occupation of the lorry, a police spokesperson said there has been just one arrest to date in November, compared with 40 in October and 26 in September.

They said: "Today, about 25 officers who were due to attend Kirby Misperton were instead deployed to neighbourhood policing roles elsewhere in Ryedale, including community engagement and high-visibility reassurance patrols.

"Throughout the morning, officers spoke to residents and handed out hundreds of leaflets with home security advice to residents in Malton, Old Malton, Pickering and Helmsley."

They also came across a vehicle crash on the A169 this morning.

Superintendent Alisdair Dey, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “In recent days we have been able to scale down our resources at Kirby Misperton and redeploy officers, as protest activity related to hydraulic fracturing has been largely peaceful and safe.

“We know that there are very different views about hydraulic fracturing, but as the local police, our responsibility is to carry out our duties impartially.

"Local police officers will continue to be active in the area, discussing our role and addressing any concerns.”