Fracking committee under way

Four days of committee meetings have begun to determine whether Cuadrilla secures permits to extract shale gas from sites at Preston New Road, near Little Plumpton, and Roseacre Wood.

The practice of fracking has proven controversial and the committee meetings in Preston have attracted protesters. The North and West Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, which supports fracking and shares its offices with Cuadrilla, has previously been targeted by activists. In addition, a letter signed by 850 elected officials from New York State made national headlines for urging Lancashire County Council to reject all applications on the grounds that it is "dirty and dangerous".