POLICE are drawing up plans to cover possible protests over an energy firm's controversial plan to frack shale gas near the North York Moors.

Inspector Andy Everitt said a team of officers was developing an action plan, following an announcement by Third Energy that it intended to apply for planning permission to hydraulically fracture one of their existing well sites at Kirby Misperton.

It is believed fracking could take place as soon as next year if approval is granted to the firm, which believes there could be a significant new gas reservoir between 7,000 and 10,000ft deep, next to the Flamingo Land theme park, near Pickering .

The firm hopes to use the drilling method, a government report over which led campaigners to super-glue themselves to the doors of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in London in August and occupy other sites, to stimulate gas flow from sandstone and shale.

The plans are likely to see North Yorkshire Police utilise its experience of dealing with environmental protests, such as the 16-hour campaign at Drax Power Station in 2008, which caused delays to numerous freight and passenger services, and the clean-up operation cost Network Rail nearly £37,000.

Insp Everitt said: " It is the intention of North Yorkshire Police to allow people to express their views on this issue and we will of course uphold the rights of all persons to protest provided they remain inside the law."

While it is understood plans to show the level of opposition to Third Energy being allowed to carry out the drilling procedure are being developed, details are yet to be revealed.

Opponents to the scheme said lorries coming in and out of the village will disrupt hundreds of residents, and claim the potential for pollution is huge.

John Cossham, chairman and founder of Frack Free York, said the process could pollute underground water.

He said: "We will not be able to use that water for watering crops, feeding cattle or taking tap water from it."

Richard Lane, of York and Ryedale Friends of the Earth, added: "We know there's a resource here and the people in Government really want to encourage it, so we fully expected it to come along.

"A lot of people in the area are absolutely outraged."