THE leader of East Hampshire's Lib Dems has called on Hampshire County Council to bring in a blanket ban on fracking, saying residents should be "very worried".

Hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, involves drilling layers of rock with pressured water, often mixed with sand and chemicals, to release pockets of natural gas.

The process is controversial because it uses vast quantities of water and induces seismicity, which can lead to mini earthquakes.

There are also concerns over health and water and soil contamination.

At the county council's full meeting on Thursday, May 16, Adam Carew – who represents Bordon on both the district and county councils – called on councillors to oppose all fracking in Hampshire.

For full story, see this week's Haslemere Herald.