A BOLTON civil engineering firm has been awarded the contract for a controversial fracking operation in Lancashire.

AE Yates Ltd, based at the Lostock Industrial Estate, has won the £1.5 million building contract from Cuadrilla Resources for their planned horizontal fracking site in Little Plumpton, near Blackpool.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid approved the plans in October, despite ongoing protests from environmentalists and local campaign groups.

Cuadrilla Resources CEO, Francis Egan, said: “We have often spoken about how shale gas will benefit Lancashire as well as enhancing national energy security and now we are turning those words into action.”