Protesters have been banned from gathering at ‘nominated areas’ at Balcombe.

It follows an incident today when a protester closed the road for five hours after climbing at a tripod.

Campaigners against fracking have now been told that they are banned from accessing certain areas – believed to include the main road – and a Section 14 order had been imposed.

Under the Public Order Act 1986, Section 14 orders allow police to impose conditions on public assemblies "to prevent serious public disorder, serious criminal damage or serious disruption to the life of the community".

The conditions are limited to the specifying of the number of people who may take part, the location of the assembly, and its maximum duration.