MORE than 200 people attended a protest at a fracking site in North Yorkshire.

The trade unions solidarity day at Kirby Misperton yesterday was the latest in a series of demonstrations against Third Energy's controversial plans for the site.

The crowd initially gathered outside the Kirby Misperton village Hall and then held a procession to the gates of the KM8 well.

Drummers from the Public Commercial Services Union (PCS) samba band led the procession.

Among those present were representatives from Frack Free Lancashire, Fire Brigades Union, PCS, Unite and Unite community.

A spokesperson for the KM Protectors group said: "The trade unions attended KM8 as a show of solidarity and to raise awareness of the erroneous idea that environmental protection conflicts with the creation of secure jobs.

"They dispute the government’s claims that the fracking industry will create 64,000 jobs, countering that a million sustainable and long lasting jobs could be created though investment in the green energy sector. "

One of the day's organisers, Kim Hunter, said: "The people who try to make out that there's some kind of split between jobs and the environment are doing us all a harm.’’