Cash for councils that give green-light to fracking

Local councils will receive a cash windfall for encouraging shale gas production.

The prime minister's announcement comes after more protests in Salford at the weekend against the controversial process known as fracking.

The PM will say councils can keep 100 per cent of business rates they collect from shale gas sites – double the current 50 per cent figure.

Environmentalists claim there is indisputable evidence fracking causes air and water pollution and leads to earth tremors - the Government and industry say it is safe and will create jobs.

Yesterday hundreds of anti-fracking protesters held a peaceful march and rally at a drilling site in Salford.

Energy company IGas was granted permission for exploratory gas drilling at Barton Moss and says it is seeking methane and shale gas but has no plans for fracking.

Fracking involves the fracturing of rock by a pressurized liquid to release shale gas, with potentially vast reserves untapped across huge swathes of the UK.