Anti-fracking campaigners in Yorkshire yesterday accused local councillors of “stifling democracy” by limiting public attendance at a council meeting.

They say more than 40 campaigners were excluded from an East Riding of Yorkshire Council meeting on Wednesday at which a planning application for a fracking site was being discussed.

Opponents of the application were forced to sit in a gallery but many more were refused access when the council refused to switch the meeting to a bigger venue, the campaigners said.

The fracking site is at Crawberry Hill, near Beverley.

Kayte White is a local resident and was left standing on the pavement outside Beverley Town Hall.

“We’re shocked and absolutely appalled,” said Ms White.