GREENPEACE brought the campaign against fracking to the doorstep of Lancashire county councillors yesterday.

Around 10 campaigners put up a shale gas drilling rig surrounded by an 8ft high fence outside County Hall’s main entrance in Preston.

A soundtrack of drills, trucks and industrial plant was played loudly as councillors entered the building.

They were attending a meeting of the authority’s development control committee which has the power to permit drilling in Pendle, Burnley, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Rossendale and Chorley.

Local campaign leader Liz Stanton said: “Lancashire is widely seen as the test case for whether fracking goes ahead nationally.

“Cuadrilla is proposing to invade precious parts of the county with trucks, drills, flares and chemicals.County councillors must say no.

“This isn’t just an issue for Lancashire, and councillors should understand that their decision has national significance.”

Last week, Greenpeace executive director John Sauven wrote to committee members, Labour council leader Jenny Mein, Liberal Democrat leader Bill Winlow and Conservative leader Geoff Driver.

This summer’s British Geological Survey’s study of shale gas resources in Lancashire extended the potential drilling area from the Fylde right across the east of the county.

While most of the Ribble Valley has no gas reserves, it revealed the M65 corridor and Rossendale Valley were prime candidates for the process. A Cuadrilla spokesperson said: “We’re committed to working with the community and are keen to take on board the views of local people as we continue to assess the full potential of the natural gas locked up in Lancashire’s Bowland shale in a safe and responsible manner.”

A Lancashire County Council spokesman said: “There are no proposals around this due to come up before the development control committee.”