This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-39779068

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Preston New Road anti-fracking protest blocks A583 Preston New Road anti-fracking protest blocks A583
(about 9 hours later)
Anti-fracking protesters have halted traffic outside a shale gas exploration site in Lancashire by locking themselves together across a road. A demonstration by anti-fracking protesters has ended hours after halting traffic outside a shale gas exploration site in Lancashire.
Lancashire Police were called to the site on Preston New Road near Little Plumpton at about 06:15 BST. Police were called to Preston New Road near Little Plumpton at about 06:15 BST as campaigners locked themselves together on the road.
A force spokesman said eight people in pairs had been on the road and an operation to remove them was under way. Officers were seen leading several protestors away from the scene.
He said it had caused "a lot of problems" on surrounding roads. One lane of the road has since reopened. The firm Cuadrilla, which is carrying out shale gas exploration, condemned the protest as "utterly selfish".
Pairs of protestors were joined together by a lockable tube in an action described as a "lock-on" protest.
Anti-fracking protester Judy Paskell said the police had ended the lock-on late in the afternoon.
She added: "We've had a very good day, we've stopped traffic entering the site for most of the day."
A force spokesman said eight people in pairs had been on the road.
'Slow walk''Slow walk'
Anti-fracking protester Judy Paskell said the lock-on had been used as a "last resort" to "stop all traffic in and out of the site" as campaigners had not been "given the opportunity to slow walk" at the site. He said it had caused "a lot of problems" on surrounding roads.
Slow walking in front of vehicles has previously been used by protesters both at Preston New Road and outside the premises of companies supplying the site. Ms Paskell said the lock-on was used as a "last resort" to "stop all traffic in and out of the site" as campaigners had not been "given the opportunity to slow walk" at the site.
Ms Paskell added it was a "peaceful protest" and campaigners had offered to move to the side of the road "in front of the gate" serving the site. Walking very slowly in front to impede vehicles trying to access the drilling site is tactic that has been used by protesters both at Preston New Road and outside the premises of companies supplying the site.
A force spokesman said so far no arrests had been made. Francis Egan, chief executive of Cuadrilla, said "unreservedly condemns" the activists "who completely blocked the busy A583 Preston New Road this morning with absolutely no regard for local people going about their daily business."
Protests have been held at the site since work started on 5 January.Protests have been held at the site since work started on 5 January.
Energy firm Cuadrilla has previously said drilling would start in the spring.Energy firm Cuadrilla has previously said drilling would start in the spring.