CAMPAIGNERS took to the streets to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the last time fracking was carried out in the UK.

Members of Bolton Friends of the Earth and Bolton Against Fracking held a ‘four years frack free’ street party in Deansgate in the town centre.

Fracking, which involves injecting high-pressure water into the ground to extract shale gas, was suspended in 2011 after tremors in Blackpool were thought to have been caused by the process.

At the end of 2013 the Government opened swathes of the country, including Bolton, to fracking with a new round of licensing.

Last year, David Cameron announced councils would be allowed to keep 100 per cent of business rates from fracking operations as an incentive to drive Britain towards shale gas use.

But critics say it is risky, produces more fossil fuels which cause climate change, is responsible for air and water pollution and puts health and environment at risk.

During the street party, activists collected signatures for petitions to Bolton Council and Lancashire County Council for the authorities to reject the practice.

Following the celebration, Elizabeth Shepherd from Friends of the Earth said: “Fracking produces more dirty fossil fuels that will cause more climate change, whilst even the Government and the frackers admit it is unlikely to lower our bills.

"Fracking would also cause huge disruption if we allow it in Lancashire, or anywhere in the UK, so we want Lancashire Council to oppose fracking and we need the government to get behind renewables and energy saving instead.

“The scale of concern about fracking was shown by the willingness of people in Bolton to sign the petitions.”

Lancashire Council’s decision, due at the end of April, on planning applications for two potential fracking sites near Blackpool could influence the fracking industry across the UK.