CAMPAIGNERS in rural East Yorkshire are mobilising against the “utter madness” of plans to drill for oil and gas.

The Fossil Free East Yorkshire campaign has been launched to resist proposals to exploit an estimated 189 billion cubic metres of gas and 31 million barrels of oil lying below countryside near the Yorkshire coast.

Oil and gas extraction is already taking place near the village of West Newton, nine miles from the port of Hull.

The company involved, Rathlin Energy, has applied for planning permission to drill more wells, which opponents say will triple the size of the operation.

A public consultation on the application is taking place.

Campaigners opposed to the plan are warning residents that they will lead to thousands of oil tanker lorries driving along country lanes during the extraction period.

They have reminded East Riding of Yorkshire Council that it declared a “climate emergency” in February over global warming.

A Fossil Free East Yorkshire statement said: “For our very survival and the future of our children – our food supplies, our homes and our security – we must keep it in the ground.

“The world is turning away from outdated, polluting fossil fuels, so drilling more oil wells now is utter madness.”

Local resident Helen Wright said: “Up to 25 tankers of crude oil per day passing through small villages on narrow roads and the release of methane gas into the environment would not only have a detrimental effect on our quality of life but would negatively impact on tackling climate change.”

A spokesman for East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: "A planning application has been lodged with the council and the statutory period of consultation has now started. All comments received during the consultation people will be considered by the council when preparing the report to go before planning committee."