A PROTESTER from Stroud was one of four arrested in Lancashire in a bid to prevent fracking in the area.

Jo Woolley, along with three other women were arrested in Preston New Road, near Little Plumpton, while lying down outside a fracking – shale gas exploration – site.

All four protesters have been charged with obstructing the highway and are due to appear at Blackpool Magistrates' Court on September 11.

Their protest aimed to highlight the harm that they believe fracking can create and to halt the "planned destruction" of Lancashire’s landscape.

Jo and her fellow protesters from Stroud and Bristol made the trip on Wednesday, July 26 and will return for a further demonstration on Wednesday, August 30.

“This current unstable, immoral government has no respect for the collective will of the Lancashire people – who gave a very clear no to fracking,” said Jo.

“To add to this, after paying lip-service to the climate agreements made in Paris, they are directly going against this agreement in supporting the polluting and retrograde industry of fracking instead of putting focus and resources into renewable energy.

“Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France and Germany have banned fracking.

“The accumulating evidence in Australia and the United States where fracking has taken place, shows a profound and lasting damage to the landscape and the communities where this invasive, poisonous industry has spread its terrible effect.

“Caudrilla plan to perpetrate this harm upon the land and people of Lancashire. If this is allowed, it gives licence for fracking to spread and destroy our northern lands.

“For me, this puts the situation into red alert.”

“Last year the government stepped in to overrule the county council in Lancashire, it’s not democratic at all.”

Jo stated that it isn’t just the environment she is concerned about, it’s also the communities which depend on the land for their livelihoods.

She felt compelled to stand up on their behalf and rally to the cause.

Francis Egan, Cuadrilla’s chief executive, said: “Developing an indigenous source of natural gas is critical for UK energy security, our economy, jobs and the environment.”