ONE person has been arrested during a stand-off between protesters and police at the entrance to the site of an oil well exploration drill in Co Antrim.
A man was arrested on suspicion of causing an obstruction after demonstrators gathered at Woodburn Forest in Carrickfergus.
Campaign group 'Stop the Drill' is urging an immediate halt of all activities on the land.
Contractors turned up to the site on Thursday attempting to start preparatory work as demonstrators kept up a protest they have held day and night since Monday.
Around 30 protesters were present yesterday when The Irish News visited the site.
An oil company, InfraStrata, wants to drill an exploratory well on the site but objectors say it will affect a reservoir around 400 metres away which supplies water to thousands of homes, including large parts of Co Antrim and Belfast.
The work, expected to take around four months to complete, is proceeding under what are called permitted development rights, meaning it does not need full planning permission.
Objectors have called on the Department of the Environment to review the permits.
A trailer has been used to block access to the land and a number of private cars are also blocking the road outside it.
One protester, Lisa Armitage, watched as her car was towed away.
"My car had been left blocking the road when I was protesting further up and I was told it was going to be towed away," Ms Armitage said.
"I jumped in and locked myself in the car. It did delay them towing it for a while. Eventually I left but only after I was threatened with arrest."
She added: "This development affects everybody, it affects water supply, nature and wildlife. We want Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to come out and back us, but they haven't even heard our message."
At least one councillor was present at the site yesterday, but he declined to speak to The Irish News.
Another protester, Fiona Joyce, said that support had been mobilised so that "every couple of minutes a petition against this is being lodged."
Asked whether the demonstration was worth risking prosecution, Ms Joyce said: "Yes it is - these are people who understand the difficulties we are facing."
Northern Ireland Water, which has leased the land, has said it believes the project does not pose a risk to the water supply.
Last year, it emerged that Belfast City Council was to write to two executive ministers asking them to overturn permission for the drill.
Sinn Féin East Antrim MLA Oliver McMullan called for the work at the site to be halted.
He said: "I have requested an urgent meeting with senior officials at InfraStrata and I call on the company to suspend drilling immediately until the concerns of the local community are addressed."
Police confirmed a man aged in his fifties had been arrested at the protest.
Chief Inspector Stephen McCauley said: "As a police service we respect the rights of people to protest as long as it is within the parameters of the law.
"Anyone who chooses to participate in the protest should do so peacefully. We will continue to monitor the situation and engage with all interested parties moving forward."
InfraStrata did not respond to requests for comment from The Irish News.
