Drill site blockaded

Greater Manchester Police say they have made "no arrests" over the blockading of a gas drilling site in Barton Moss.

The force say they are investigating the blockade, and are liaising with site owner IGas.

Anti-fracking protesters have blockaded a gas drilling site with a wind turbine blade.

The anti-fracking group, No Dash For Gas, pushed the 1.5 tonne blade in front of the site entrance at 5.30am this morning.

Gas firm, IGas, is carrying out exploratory drilling at the Barton Moss site.

Protester Sandra Denton says: “We don't need damaging, risky and polluting energy sources. A shift to properly insulated homes powered by clean, community-owned or publicly-controlled renewable energy would... give us all a decent chance at avoiding runaway climate change."

In a video, filmed by No Dash For Gas, the group is seen wheeling pieces of the blade into place using large trollies. They then lock the sections together and leave the completed blade at the site gate, tied with a Christmas bow.

An IGas spokesperson says: "We recognise the right to peaceful protest, however our priority is to ensure there is minimal disruption to local people... We do not condone any protest activity which impacts the right of local people to go about their daily lives and work."