An anti-fracking campaign group says the vast majority of people it has spoken to do not want to see the process happen in the South West.

Frack Free North Somerset campaigners spoke to 181 people living in Hutton between April and July to find out their views.

With fracking a possibility to the south of Weston, the group was keen to hear what villagers thought.

A spokesman for the organisation said 157 of the 181 responders would not consent to fracking in the area if given the choice. By comparison, only seven were wholly in favour of fracking.

The spokesman added: “This is an impressive vote of no confidence in the idea of fracking in North Somerset.”

Fracking sees water, sand and chemicals pumped at a very high pressure into the earth in an attempt to release gas which can be used as energy.

But environmentalists around the world are concerned the practice will cause major problems to the ground.