TWO men have been arrested on suspicion of poisoning a guard dog at a fracking site in Ryedale.

North Yorkshire Police said a 42-year-old man was arrested by police officers at 1.30pm yesterday in Kirby Misperton on suspicion of administering poison to an animal, and causing criminal damage to an animal.

A 61-year-old man was arrested on a bus at Tadcaster Bus Station at 2.50pm on suspicion of causing criminal damage to an animal, in connection with the same incident, the force added.

A police spokesman said: "Police were informed that a number of pellets had been thrown over the fence into the hydraulic fracturing site yesterday morning. A guard dog at the site had eaten some of the pellets, been sick and collapsed. The dog was taken to a vet for treatment.

"Several pellets were seized from the site. A caravan parked on Habton Road, Kirby Misperton, was searched as part of the investigation."

Both men have been released on bail, with a condition to stay away from an area around the site gates, as inquiries continue.