AN eye-catching anti-fracking protest crusaded through East Lancashire as part of a worldwide day of action opposing the controversial shale gas extraction.

Mr Frackhead, a 15ft puppet monster, visited Accrington and Burnley as environmentalists called on Lancashire County Council to reject requests to drill here.

The figure was paraded outside both town halls as part of its UK tour.

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Mr Frackhead, a pro-fracking character, was created by Friends of the Earth to raise awareness about fracking and its potential impacts.

Helen Rimmer, North West campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: “Mr Frackhead represents the greed of a global industry desperate to squeeze the last drops of fossil fuels from the earth, no matter the long-term cost to us all.

“We’re visiting towns across Lancashire as part of the Global Frackdown, a day of action against fracking with hundreds of events across the world.

“East Lancashire is only one of many areas around the world living under the threat of being fracked. Communities in the Fylde are faced with the prospect of 24-hour drilling and flaring and risks to their environment and health.” Energy firm Cuadrilla has applied to frack eight wells in the Fylde, with Lancashire County Council due to make a decision on the plans later this year.

In June, the British Geological Survey identified East Lancashire’s M65 corridor as one of the areas in which energy companies could bid for a further licence to drill.

Mr Frackhead’s countywide tour, which took place on Saturday to coincide with the Global Frackdown day of action, saw him greeted by protesters from Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Friends of the Earth and Frack Free Lancashire.

Ms Rimmer said: “We want Lancashire County Council to say no to dirty fracking and back clean energy solutions such as solar, wind, tidal and energy efficiency, which could boost the local economy and create thousands of jobs.”