Although the same meeting refused the company permission to frack at another site at Rosecare, should the plan be approved by councillors next week, it will be the first time fracking has been given the go ahead in the UK since it was banned following earth tremors near Blackpool in 2011.

A government report in June 20102 subsequently concluded that fracking was safe, if adequately monitored, and the current government are enthusiastic supporters of the process.

However, protesters say not enough is yet known about the full health and environmental impacts of fracking and more than 90,000 people have signed a petition asking the Council to keep Lancashire fracking free.

Friends of the Earth are staging a demonstration in Preston on Tuesday, June 23, ahead of the council meeting, while rival fracking firm IGas, which carried out test drilling at Barton Moss in Salford last year, will be watching the decision with interest.

Main image by Flickr user The Weekly Bull published here using a Creative Commons Licence.