The daughter of Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde and a former page 3 girl-turned-politician were among 14 people who pleaded not guilty to causing disruption during protests against fracking.
Natalie Hynde, 30, and Marina Baker, 45, appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court charged in connection with campaigning which has been taking place in Balcombe, West Sussex, for more than two weeks against energy company Cuadrilla, which is testing the area for shale gas.
Fracking involves high pressure liquid being pumped deep underground to split shale rock and release gas supplies, which could potentially cause water contamination, small-scale earthquakes and environmental damage, according to opponents.
Hynde, from St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex, appeared alongside Simon Medhurst, 55, from Hastings, charged under Section 241 of the Trade Union Labour Relations Act for attempting to stop drivers and other workers from accessing the site on July 31.
Baker, from Lewes, is charged with wilfully obstructing a highway on July 29. Adriano Merola, 23, from Brighton, faces the same charge. Ben Lucas, 21, from Preston, and Rhonda Mathew, 61, from High Wycombe, are charged under Section 241 of the Trade Union Labour Relations Act for attempting to stop drivers and other workers from accessing the site on July 29. Teacher Frances Crack, 31, from Cardiff, Samantha Duncan, 29, from Brighton, circus employee Ezra Lynch, 31, from Lewes, Mark Mansbridge, 51, a voluntary charity worker from Lewes, Richard Millar, 29, from Brighton, Justin Preece, from Mid Glamorgan, Nancy Walker, 25, from London, and Marcin Swiercz, 35, a handyman from London, are also all charged under Section 241 of the Trade Union Labour Relations Act for attempting to stop drivers and other workers from accessing the site on July 26.
