THIRD ENERGY will not be fracking at a site in North Yorkshire before the autumn, it confirmed yesterday.

The energy firm had expected to complete a series of test fracks at a well in the village of Kirby Misperton before Christmas last year, but was held up as it waited for the final go-ahead from the government.

The company decided to let contractors remove some of the equipment from the site after an assessment of its “financial resilience” was ordered by government.