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José Bové joins West Sussex villagers in anti-fracking protest

The French alter-globalization militant, MEP and high-profile campaigner against GM crops, joined the rally at a fracking site in southern England.

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Hundreds of protesters have taken part in an anti-fracking rally in West Sussex led by a key campaigner from France, reports BBC News (Sussex).

French Green MEP José Bové addressed the gathering at Balcombe on Sunday.

The site was the scene of protests during the summer when energy firm Cuadrilla carried out test drilling for oil at the site.

Mr Bové met with campaigners before leading a brief occupation of the drilling pad.

Addressing the rally, Mr Bové said that because France already had a fracking ban, it was the responsibility of the French to support the UK opposition to the drilling technique.

He added that there had to be a "real movement at national level with all different kinds of people" and that only when politicians were "afraid to lose their place in parliament [would they] change the way they think".

"You have to say to all candidates 'are you for or against fracking?'" he said.

A spokesman for the event's organisers said it had had a "very good-spirited, peaceful but determined atmosphere".

Read more of this report (with video) from BBC News.