Activists descend on Balcombe 'fracking' site for protest camp 16 August 2013 Last updated at 18:20 Continue reading the main story Activists have descended on a test drilling site in West Sussex as part of a six-day protest camp. Energy firm Cuadrilla is looking for oil near the village of Balcombe, but has not ruled out using the controversial technique of fracking. Sussex Police believe up to 1,000 people could join the existing protest, which the force said had so far cost it £730,000. Cuadrilla has scaled back the test drilling on police advice. However, its chief executive Francis Egan said drilling would continue at the site as soon as it was safe to do so. He said: "The protest camp is scheduled to be there for I think five or six days. But we'll work closely with the police. We are intending to restart, we are intending to finish the well. Cuadrilla chief executive Francis Egan says, "We don't want anyone to get hurt" but denies setting a bad precedent No permission The No Dash For Gas protest group said it was in a "working relationship" with the farmer who owns the land where they have based their protest camp. However, Richard Ponsford, who owns Sidney Farm, said the activists came on his land without his permission. Mr Ponsford, 59, said: "About three or four vans came on to the field and they spent about three hours barricading the field in. I certainly did not give my permission. There is no way I would have allowed them in at all. The BBC's Angus Crawford said fashion designer Vivienne Westwood joined about 100 activists who arrived at Balcombe at 13:00 BST. Some of the protesters were waving anti-fracking banners and others were wearing Guy Fawkes masks, which have become a feature of demonstrations around the world. Cuadrilla is drilling a 3,000ft (900m) vertical well and a 2,500ft (750m) horizontal bore, but said fracking for shale gas would need fresh permission. Environmental campaigners have been camped at the site for the past three weeks, with about 40 people arrested in that time. Sussex Police said the cost of policing the protests included overtime, salary costs and supplies. Katy Bourne, Sussex police and crime commissioner, said the force would seek help from central government to meet the bill. She said: "While we continue to facilitate peaceful protest at the site in an appropriate and proportionate manner, the recent involvement of national groups suggests the demonstrations will continue long-term. This is leading to increased demand on police resources and is placing pressure on the police budget at a time when we are being asked to find significant savings.