A CATALOGUE of health and safety infringements has been revealed at Third Energy’s contentious fracking site in rural North Yorkshire.

And the company involved admitted that most drilling equipment is out of date and does not meet modern-day standards.

Anti-fracking group Frack Free Ryedale obtained a report from the government’s Health & Safety Executive using Freedom of Information legislation.

The report was prepared following an inspection last year at Third Energy’s drilling site at Kirby Misperton near Pickering.

The site is targeted for regular protests by local residents and other anti-fracking campaigners.

The report’s revelations included inadequate provision of accident and emergency back-up, missing safety documents and lack of provision to deal with gas leaks.

The campaigners also had sight of Third Energy’s response to the report in which it admitted: “It needs to be recognised that the land-rig market in the UK does not have much to choose from.

“Those rigs that are in the UK tend to be old and functional but without today’s ergonomic standards.”

Russell Scott of Frack Free Ryedale said: “The news that Third Energy have yet again fallen short on their safety requirements should set alarm bells ringing across Yorkshire.”

Sue Gough, who lives a mile from the site, said: “Third Energy are a cowboy operation and are simply not fit to frack.

“Time and time again they show contempt for the safety of the local community and their own workforce and the litany of health and safety failures revealed in this is simply astonishing.”