An energy company has announced it will stop drilling for oil and gas at its site in East Yorkshire.

Rathlin Energy said the decision to abandon the project at Crawberry Hill, near Walkington, was taken on “technical and commercial grounds”.

The exploratory drilling had attracted opposition and anti-fracking campaigners had set up camp nearby.

The company stated: “This decision has been taken in light of all the information derived from each of the exploration wells and against the background of continuing depression in world energy prices, which currently show little sign of recovery.”

It added the well site is not a preferred location for further drilling or investment.

Its discovery of natural gas in another well at West Newton is to be assessed next year.

Earlier this week the UK Government announced planning applications to frack in the UK will be fast-tracked.