ALL seven of East Lancashire’s parliamentary constituencies face the threat of ‘fast track’ fracking, Friends of the Earth has said.

The environmental campaign group said companies seeking to drill for shale gas could carry out test drills without planning permission in parts of the country under proposals in the Conservative's election manifesto.

It has published a list of 199 of the UK’s 650 parliamentary constituencies where it believes this could take place.

It includes Blackburn, Burnley, Chorley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale and Darwen along the M65 corridor identified as sitting on reserves of shale gas by the The British Geological Society in June 2013.

Naomi Luhde-Thompson, Friends of the Earth senior planner, said: “This proposal could see shale gas test drills puncture the countryside left, right and centre, with local democracy trampled underfoot.

“We are concerned that the final decision on proposals for full-scale fracking could be taken from local councillors.

“This is undemocratic and marginalises the views of local people.”