ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

The joint leader of the Green Party was dragged along the ground by police after he refused to move at a fracking protest in Yorkshire.

Jonathan Bartley, who heads up the environmentally-minded party alongside Caroline Lucas, was one of dozens of protesters who sat in the road outside the fracking base in Kirby Misperton in Ryedale on Tuesday.

The politician, from London, began giving a speech to campaigners before being cut off by a police officer who told crowds they were blocking the road.

“Folks I appreciate this gentleman is trying to give a speech but I’ve been asked to continue…” the officer said, before being drowned out by booing.

The Green Party later shared video footage on social media of police officers trying to disperse the crowds by pulling on their arms.

Two officers grab Mr Bartley, who has been co-leader of the party since September last year, and he is lifted away.

More photos show his feet trailing along the ground as he is pulled away by police.

The party co-leader later tweeted: "Well that was interesting. Never been pushed over and dragged away by police while giving a speech before."

Superintendent Alisdair Dey, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “A number of people were standing, sitting and lying in the road outside the hydraulic fracturing site at 1.15pm today.

“Officers explained they were blocking the road, and asked them to move on several occasions, but they refused to do so. Several people were then moved away by officers.

“We know that there are very different views about hydraulic fracturing, but as the local police, our responsibility is to carry out our duties impartially.

“That means we have a duty to make sure that people who want to assemble and protest do so safely, balanced against a duty to ensure that businesses can go about their lawful commercial activity.”

Last month activists protesting at the same site complained of “heavy-handed” police behaviour after a video showed a campaigner being pushed over.

Company Third Energy was given planning permission at the fracking site in Kirby Misperton in May 2016 although it is awaiting final consent to start work.

The process of fracking means drilling into the earth and using high-pressure liquid to extract gas.

According to the BBC, police are regularly posted to the site as protesters have picketed the entrance and climbed onto lorries and a drilling rig.