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Frack Off protesters blockade drilling rig Frack Off protesters end drilling rig blockade
(about 7 hours later)
Twenty protesters who oppose the controversial fracking method of natural gas extraction are blockading a drilling rig in Derbyshire. Protesters who oppose the fracking method of natural gas extraction have ended their blockade of a drilling rig stored in Derbyshire.
The group Frack Off says it wants to prevent the rig moving from storage to a frack site in Lancashire. The group Frack Off said it wanted to delay the rig moving to a frack site in Lancashire.
Four of the protesters have reportedly locked themselves by their necks to gates, to prevent the gates being opened. Four of the protesters locked their necks to gates at the site in Danesmoor, near Chesterfield.
PR Marriott, which owns the Derbyshire site, was not available for comment. Cuadrilla Resources, which owns the rig, said it did not want to get involved in arguments with protesters.
Joe Reid, 22, one of the protesters who have locked themselves to the gates, claimed "corporate greed" was being prioritised "over the interests of people and eco-systems while pretending to care about them". Before the blockade ended, police issued a formal warning that protesters would be arrested if they did not move immediately.
The demonstrators said they have been on the site in Danesmoor, near Chesterfield, since 04:45 BST. 'Pretend to care'
Derbyshire Constabulary said officers are monitoring the protesters after a member of staff at the firm called them at 05:20 BST. Joe Reid, 22, one of the protesters who locked themselves to the gates, claimed "corporate greed" was being prioritised "over the interests of people and eco-systems while pretending to care about them".
'Peaceful protest' In response to the protest, Mark Miller, chief executive of Cuadrilla Resources, said: "We would rather concentrate on continuing to communicate on every aspect of our operations with the local communities that we work within, than get involved in arguments with environmental protesters - most of whom don't live anywhere near where we work."
Frack Off believes the rig, owned by Cuadrilla Resources, is due to be moved to Lancashire within the next few days. Twenty demonstrators said they arrived on the site in Danesmoor, near Chesterfield, since 04:45 BST.
Group spokesman Ben Johns said: "We are doing it now to prevent it being moved to Lancashire. Derbyshire Constabulary said a member of staff at the firm called them at 05:20 BST and the protest ended at 12:50 BST.
"We may not prevent it being done in the medium-term but every day it's not moving is another day it's not being fracked." Frack Off believes the rig is due to be moved to Lancashire within the next few days.
A spokesperson for Derbyshire Constabulary said: "This is a peaceful protest which is not blocking access to other premises. Group spokesman Ben Johns said the protest had succeeded in raising awareness of fracking.
"Officers are talking to the protesters and will remain at the scene until the protest is over." 'Back to normal'
"We had a talk about it and we felt not only had we squared up to the company we had achieved our goal in getting the message out, that drilling is going to commence," he said.
"If they start drilling we will be there to oppose them."
A spokesperson for Derbyshire Constabulary said the protest had been peaceful and nobody was arrested.
The site near Chesterfield is owned by PR Marriott Drilling, a specialist contractor that works with Cuadrilla on their drilling operations.
Their work includes maintaining and servicing the drilling equipment, including the rig.
A spokesperson said: "Despite the best attempts of the environmental protesters to damage this British business, access to the site has been gained and work has all but returned to normal."