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Fracking resumes in Lancashire after 18 hour suspension

Credit: ITV Granada

Fracking has resumed again in Lancashire after a minor earthquake on Tuesday led to an 18 hour suspension.

Energy firm Cuadrilla halted the work at the Preston New Road site in line with regulations. But they say the micro-seismic event measuring 1.1 magnitude was below anything that would cause damage or harm.

Two smaller tremors affected the site last week.

Anti-fracking campaigners argue the process, to extract shale gas, poses risks to the environment.

According to the BGS, earthquakes with magnitude of less than two are not usually felt and, if they are, it is only by people very close to the earthquake.

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Fracking in Lancashire

13th earthquake recorded at fracking site - 'strongest so far'

Fracking has once again been halted at Cuadrilla's site in Lancashire after yet another earthquake was recorded in Blackpool this morning.

Its the thirteenth tremor since fracking began last Monday and the biggest so far.

Its been classed as a ''red event' and the energy company has paused operations for at least the next 18 hours as monitoring continues.

Adam McClean reports from the Preston New Road site.

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Fracking in Lancashire

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Fracking halted after 'earth tremor' in Lancashire

Credit: ITV

Energy firm Cuadrilla say they've stopped fracking in Lancashire for the moment after an earth tremor.

What's been described as a 'seismic event' happened at the Preston New Road site this afternoon.

Anti fracking campaigners say the tremor is a "worrying sign"

Rob Jaskowski reports:

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Fracking in Lancashire

Fracking halted in Lancashire after 'earth tremor'

Credit: Cuadrilla

Fracking firm Cuadrilla say they've stopped fracking for the day after a 'seismic event' occurred at the Preston New Road site

The company say the tremor was 0.4 magnitude and described it as extremely low. They say they've adopted extra precautions by stopping work until tomorrow.

A spokeswoman for Frack Free Lancashire said the tremor was a "worrying sign".

The highly sensitive monitoring systems at and around Cuadrilla’s shale gas exploration site in Preston New Road have detected a seismic event within the company’s operational area (approx. 4.8km²) of 0.4 ML (Local Magnitude) this afternoon while hydraulic fracturing operations were ongoing.

This is an extremely low level of seismicity, far below what could possibly be felt at the surface but classed as an amber event as part of the Traffic Light System (TLS) in place for monitoring operational activity.

As such we are required to reduce the rate we are pumping fracturing fluid once it has been detected.

In fact we have adopted extra caution and have stopped pumping for the day.

Seismicity will, as always, continue to be monitored closely around the clock by ourselves and others and we plan to continue hydraulic fracturing again in the morning.

Local residents should be reassured that the monitoring systems in place are working as they should.

These are tiny seismic events that are being detected by our monitors as we fracture the shale rock and are not capable of being felt much less cause damage or harm.

Regulators have been informed.

– Cuadrilla Statement
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Fracking in Lancashire

Fracking protest following earth tremors

More than a thousand people have taken part in a protest march against fracking in Lancashire.

It comes after minor earthquakes were reported near the site at Preston New Road on Friday.

Cuadrilla say they were not fracking at the time the tremors were felt.

Adam McClean reports.

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