Fracking

The Government is expected to announce whether it will give the go-ahead for two controversial fracking schemes in Lancashire.

The county council turned down planning applications for fracking for shale gas at two locations in Fylde, even though its officials had recommended the go-ahead for one of the schemes.

But Cuadrilla, the company behind the plans for the schemes at Preston New Road and Roseacre Wood, appealed against the decision and it went to a public inquiry which was heard earlier this year.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid is expected to make the final ruling on the schemes by today.

The process - in which liquid is pumped deep underground at high pressure to fracture shale rock and release gas - remains highly controversial, with opponents fearing it can cause earthquakes, pollute water, lead to damaging development in the countryside and hit house prices.

Francis Egan, CEO of Cuadrilla, told Good Morning Britain: "The country is running out of gas, and without some form of energy development, we're going to end up importing all of our fuel from overseas."

But Heather Speak, from Fylde Borough Council, told the programme: "We should be using renewable energies. We shouldn't be drilling two miles down and splitting the rock open to get gas out. We shouldn't be doing it."