UPDATE: Protester remains on lorry 'carrying stone to build new site for protesters'

A man who climbed on top of a lorry, close to Cuadrilla's fracking site in Little Plumpton yesterday afternoon, was still there this morning, police said.
The man has been on top of the lorry all night, police saidThe man has been on top of the lorry all night, police said
The man has been on top of the lorry all night, police said

Motorists were urged to avoid Preston New Road - which was reduced to one lane - as traffic built up amid the ongoing standoff.

Pictures taken at the scene showed the anti-fracking protester gesturing and eating sandwiches as officers stood beside the heavy goods vehicle, where they were waiting for him to come down.

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Related news: Anti-frack campaigners lose their High Court actionThe man managed to scramble on the lorry, which police said was delivering stone to be used to a build a controversial new protesting site for anti-frackers, at around 3pm yesterday.

And Blackpool Police said in a statement this morning: "We are urging motorists to avoid the Preston New Road area due to an on-going police incident.

"A man is on top of a lorry close to the shale gas site. A contraflow system is in place but there are considerable delays in the area.

"We would ask drivers to use alternative routes where possible. Thanks for your patience."

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Anti-fracking campaigners have complained efforts to build a designated space for them will move them further from the road and away from public view, making it harder to protest effectively.

Last month, Cuadrilla was granted an injunction to prevent protesters trespassing on a farmer's field at its Preston New Road site.

But a judge at Manchester High Court refused to limit anti-fracking campaigners to a designated area, saying it would set a precedent restricting legitimate protest.