SIX more people laid in the road in protest at fracking in North Yorkshire today, as the protest saw more campaigners from across the country join in direct action.

Two pairs of protesters were cut from concrete and metal devices after lying down in the road at 8.30am on Friday and locking their arms into the devices.

They laid at each end of Habton Road, which leads to Third Energy’s fracking site outside Kirby Misperton. North Yorkshire Police sent specialist officers to the scene with equipment to release the four protesters.

The first two were released at 12.40pm and the other two at 2.15pm.

They were arrested on suspicion of obstructing a highway and remain in custody.

Several hours later, two men laid down on Main Street in Kirby Misperton just before 5pm.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: "Main Street in Kirby Misperton is blocked due to the actions of these two men. Motorists are urged to avoid the area, and local residents and businesses will need to plan their journeys accordingly. Officers are at the scene, and doing everything they can to reduce the impact on the local community."

There had been indications Third Energy could begin fracking at the KM8 well any time from Thursday, October 26, prompting numbers protesting at the gates to the site to swell towards the end of this week.

KM Protectors said more than 100 people gathered at the protest site from North Yorkshire and other parts of the UK on Thursday.

One of them, Elizabeth, who travelled from Lincolnshire, said: “This is a job for everyone, this is everyone’s back yard.

"Invasive oil and gas industries don’t belong here, or anywhere. Things are critical; we need to progress towards a sustainable energy system, now.”

North Yorkshire Police confirmed more than two dozen officers were brought in from outside forces to help at the protest on Thursday and Friday.

It is believed they included officers from forces in Northumbria, Durham and Humberside.

A spokesman said they were brought in "due to the large number protestors coming to the village from outside the area", to enable North Yorkshire Police officers to return to duties elsewhere in North Yorkshire and York.

Superintendent Alisdair Dey said: "At times there will be an increase in the number of police officers in Kirby Misperton.

"They are there to uphold people’s rights under the law and keep people safe, in very challenging circumstances."