TWO men have been charged in connection with climbing on a tanker in a Ryedale village, and given bail conditions to stay away from the area.

At about 9.10am yesterday, two men climbed on to a tanker as it drove through Kirby Misperton, near the roundabout, North Yorkshire Police said.

A police team with specialist training and equipment had to be deployed to remove one of the men.

A 28-year-old man has been charged with hindering lawful work, by climbing onto a tanker that was in motion along Main Street, Kirby Misperton, a police spokesman said.

A 56-year-old man has been charged with tampering with a motor vehicle, by getting on to a tanker while it was on a road, the spokesman added.

The two men have been released on bail with a condition not to be within 1.5 miles of the fracking site in Kirby Misperton.

The spokesman also said that a 27-year-old woman has been charged with wilfully obstructing Main Street, Kirby Misperton, during the same incident. She has been released on unconditional bail.

All three will appear at York Magistrates Court on February 15.

Meanwhile, a roadside assistance vehicle and two tankers were delayed by a protest at the gates of the Kirby Misperton hydraulic fracturing site this morning.

Police officers monitored the peaceful protest between about 10.50am and 11.10am, which delayed the vehicles leaving the site. About seven people stood in the road until they were required to move by police.

The vehicles then left the site and continued on their way along Habton Road.