Protesters try to stop the frackers coming back

FRACKING for gas could resume in the UK next week, despite protesters launching a lastditch legal bid to block the controversial process.

A High Court hearing will be held on Wednesday after campaigners applied for an injunction to stop the work, but energy firm Cuadrilla is confident that drilling will go ahead at its site near Blackpool.

Fracking, which involves blasting water at high pressure underground to release gas, was halted in 2011 after it was blamed for triggering tremors off the Lancashire coast. Cuad

rilla chief executive Francis Egan, speaking at the site in Little Plumpton, near Blackpool, said: ‘Everything has been set up, everything has been tested and we should be ready to start fracturing next week.’

He said of the court hearing: ‘I think it’s a last-gasp attempt at trying to slow the process, but this is going to go ahead.’

Cuadrilla will initially carry out tests to see whether the site is viable, but if the operation is a success up to 20 wells could be built.

Gas production on the land would be expected to last for up to 30 years.

Laurie Underwood, from campaign group Reclaim the Power, said: ‘We remain undeterred by attempts to silence dissent. The Government have underestimated the depth of public opposition to fracking.’

‘Everything has been set up’