A Carshalton man was among those arrested at an anti-fracking protest in Sussex yesterday.

The 36-year-old was arrested and cautioned for a public order offence in relation to the protest in Balcombe yesterday. He has now been released from custody.

Campaigners gathered outside the gates to energy company Cuadrilla's drilling site in Balcombe to protest over concerns the firm may use fracking - a controversial mining technique where high pressure water is injected deep into the ground to extract gas from reserves.

Among those arrested was Green Party MP Caroline Lucas who said she took part in the protest because the Government was not listening to campaigners' concerns.

No permits to carry out fracking have been given out in Sutton and Sutton Council believes the area is unlikely to be targeted because the ground underneath it is not suitable.

The campaigners fear the technique could cause contamination to the water supply and even trigger earth tremors because it causes fractures in rocks under the earth's surface.

 

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