ANTI-fracking campaigners have been granted the right to protest by the Court of Appeal.

Fracking firm INEOS had sought measures to prevent “persons unknown” from trespassing or causing disruption at eight of the energy giant’s shale gas sites across the country.

However, the Court of Appeal has ruled in the favour of protestors after finding that the trespass injunctions failed to include an appropriate time limitation. Some of these injunctions have been referred back to the High Court, with others struck out entirely.

Rosa Curling, solicitor at law firm Leigh Day, which represented protestor Joseph Boyd, said: "Our client is delighted with his victory in the Court of Appeal today. The pre-emptive injunctions ordered by the High Court were unprecedented in their scope and undermined the protections of civil liberties and human rights in the UK. The rights to freedom of expression and peaceful protest are crucial in any democracy. That includes unruly, potentially disruptive protests."

"There can be no proper basis for companies with deep pockets to prohibit lawful protest before it has even occurred, and the Court today agreed.”