Fracking 'an opportunity for north west' - energy minister

Lancashire should seize the opportunity to be the "very centre" of the fracking industry, said the energy minister.

At a shale gas conference in Blackpool Michael Fallon urged Preston or Blackpool to embrace the industry citing the example of Aberdeen and oil and gas.

He highlighted a report which claims shale gas extraction could attract £33bn of investment to the UK.

But anti-fracking protesters who staged a show of force outside the conference said it was environmentally harmful and its benefits were being exaggerated.