Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The BBC's David Shukman explains how fracking works

Fracking for shale gas has begun for the first time in the UK since it was linked with earthquakes in 2011.

Energy firm Cuadrilla confirmed the controversial process had started at its site in Little Plumpton, Lancashire after a legal challenge failed on Friday.

Protester Ginette Evans said there was a "mood of disappointment" but insisted the fight was "not over".

Cuadrilla insisted the process was safe and would be of "enormous" benefit.

The company's chief executive Francis Egan said: "These are the first exploration wells that will be tested... we have high hopes for them but we have to wait and see what comes out."

If successful, he said it would "lead to tens of thousands of jobs and could be a very significant contributor to the exchequer and... could also reduce emissions because it will be better than importing gas from far afield".

The energy firm confirmed in a statement at 13:15 BST that it would spend at least three months fracking two horizontal wells, and then it would test to see if the gas flow was commercially viable.

If it is, up to 20 wells could be built.

Two protesters closed Preston New Road earlier when they cemented their arms together in a tyre and sat down in the middle of the road. They have since been cut free by police.

Another demonstrator climbed on to scaffolding on top of a van at the entrance to Cuadrilla's Little Plumpton site.

They were served with contempt of court notices for breaching the injunction Cuadrilla obtained preventing trespassers from entering land where fracking is taking place.

Image caption Protesters were sitting in the road outside the site, leading to its closure

Campaigner Bob Dennett, who failed to stop the work from beginning in the High Court, said: "They have sacrificed Lancashire to the gods of greed."

"We will do whatever we can to halt [Cuadrilla] in their tracks," he added.

Another campaigner, 87-year-old Anne Power, said she was "so angry" because it would be an environmental "disaster" and said she would continue the fight "as long as she has a voice".

Image copyright PA Image caption Protester Anne Power in Preston New Road site said she was "so angry" fracking has started

Lee Petts, chairman of Lancashire For Shale pro fracking group, said he was "really pleased" that fracking had finally started after a "long journey".

He said the industry had "huge scope" and could be as big a contributor to the Lancashire economy as BAE Systems.

Cat Smith, Labour MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, tweeted: "Future generations will look back at this and wonder why we didn't heed climate change warnings."

"The Tories have slashed support for small scale renewables, scaled back support for electric vehicles and are being slammed by a leading climate scientist for its pursuit of fracking."

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills said: "Shale gas has the potential to be a new domestic energy source, enhancing our energy security and delivering economic benefits, including the creation of well paid, quality jobs.

"We have been clear that any shale developments must be safe and environmentally sound."

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Judith Moritz shows us around one of the UK's first horizontal exploration wells

By Roger Harrabin Environment Analyst

The resumption of fracking falls on the day the government launches Green GB week to highlight technologies that combat climate change.

So how can the government stimulate fracking, while also pursuing zero greenhouse gas emissions?

Well, let's look at the timescales.

The first fossil fuel to be banished from the UK is coal. Next will be oil. Gas is least damaging so it will be last. Experts anticipate the UK will be using dwindling amounts of gas until the middle of the century.

Climate minister Claire Perry asks: "Why would you want to import gas when you could create your own?"

Environmentalists say this argument is flawed. They believe by the time the UK develops a shale gas industry it'll be time to close it down.

Second they point out that coal, oil and gas firms have already discovered enough fossil fuels underground to overheat the planet three times over - and a shale gas industry would only add to the problem.

But the Treasury sniffs potential tax revenues and its arguments have won the day in government.</s>Fracking for shale gas is under way in Lancashire amid protests against the controversial process.

Energy firm Cuadrilla started hydraulic fracturing at the site in Little Plumpton earlier, with the work set to continue for three months.

A High Court appeal to stop the fracking was unsuccessful on Friday.

The work marks the first time fracking has taken place in the UK since 2011, when the process was halted after it caused two small earthquakes in Lancashire.

Police closed off the site earlier as around 50 protesters gathered before the start of the fracking.

A team had to cut a man and woman out of a set of tyres which they had apparently cemented their arms into.

One activist sat on top of a van outside the site with a banner which read "Stop the Start" while another lay down in front of railings.

Protester Ginette Evans, 60, from Fleetwood, said: "We'll be monitoring the site 24 hours a day.

"It is definitely not over, it has just got serious.

"The fight's just really started."

Justin Vanparys, 47, from Blackburn, said: "Fossil fuels should stay in the ground.

"We have already got global warming."

Ms Evans said the there was a mood of disappointment among protesters, and added: "I'm gutted really.

"It's such a dangerous industry and it shouldn't be here."

He said activists had not been listened to but added: "That just makes you come back even stronger."

The work had been due to start on Saturday but was delayed by the effects of Storm Callum.

A spokesman for the energy firm said: "Cuadrilla is pleased to confirm that it has started hydraulic fracturing operations at our Preston New Road shale gas exploration site.

"Hydraulic fracturing of both horizontal exploration wells is expected to last three months after which the flow rate of the gas will be tested."

The environmental campaigner Bob Dennett failed in a bid to temporarily stop the work at the High Court in London on Friday.

Mr Justice Supperstone dismissed Mr Dennett's application for an injunction, which would have prevented the company from fracking pending his proposed legal challenge.

Mr Dennett claimed Lancashire County Council's emergency response planning and procedures at the site were inadequate, but the judge ruled there was not a "serious issue" to be tried which would justify an interim order.

The fracking is under way as the UK Government kicks off its first Green GB Week initiative to highlight the green economy.

It comes after a UN report warned of the urgent need to cut emissions to avoid dangerous climate change, and that carbon from electricity, heating homes, transport, industry and land use must reach net zero by 2050.</s>Fracking begins in UK for first time since 2011

LONDON (AP) — Protesters have gathered near a shale gas exploration site in northwestern England, as fracking began in the U.K. for the first time since 2011.

Hydraulic fracturing had been stalled in the country after two earthquakes in the same area led to legal challenges. Environmental campaigners failed last week in Britain's High Court to keep the work in Lancashire from proceeding.

Energy firm Cuadrilla said in a statement Monday that it was "pleased to confirm that it has started hydraulic fracturing operations at our Preston New Road shale gas exploration site."

The company plans to drill at two horizontal exploration wells for about three months. Demonstrators say they'll monitor the site around the clock.

Protester Ginette Evans said Monday: "The fight's just really started."</s>LONDON (AP) - Protesters have gathered near a shale gas exploration site in northwestern England, as fracking began in the U.K. for the first time since 2011.

Hydraulic fracturing had been stalled in the country after two earthquakes in the same area led to legal challenges. Environmental campaigners failed last week in Britain's High Court to keep the work in Lancashire from proceeding.

Energy firm Cuadrilla said in a statement Monday that it was "pleased to confirm that it has started hydraulic fracturing operations at our Preston New Road shale gas exploration site."

The company plans to drill at two horizontal exploration wells for about three months. Demonstrators say they'll monitor the site around the clock.

Protester Ginette Evans said Monday: "The fight's just really started."

A fracking protester sits outside energy firm Cuadrilla's site in Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, in Lancashire, England, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. The protesters have said their fight has just "got serious" as the controversial process is due to get underway in Lancashire. Police closed off the road on Monday morning as about 50 protesters gathered outside the site ahead of the start of the hydraulic fracturing process. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)</s>LONDON, Oct 15 (Reuters) - British shale gas company Cuadrilla has begun hydraulic fracking for natural gas at its Preston New Road site in Lancashire, northwest England, it said on Monday.

The company will spend at least three months fracking two horizontal wells -- which involves injecting sand, water and chemicals to split tightly packed shale rock and extract gas -- to test gas flow rates at the site, it said in a statement.</s>Fracking for shale gas has begun in Lancashire amid protests over the controversial process.

Energy firm Cuadrilla said it had started hydraulic fracturing at Preston New Road in Little Plumpton, on Monday, and it will continue for three months.

It is the first time fracking has taken place in the UK since 2011, when the nascent industry was halted after it caused two small earthquakes in Lancashire.

A spokesman for the company said: “Cuadrilla is pleased to confirm that it has started hydraulic fracturing operations at our Preston New Road shale gas exploration site.

“Hydraulic fracturing of both horizontal exploration wells is expected to last three months after which the flow rate of the gas will be tested.”

Earlier police closed off the site as about 50 protesters gathered ahead of the start of the process and a team had to cut a man and woman out of a set of tyres which they had apparently cemented their arms into.

One activist sat on top of a van outside the site with a banner which read “Stop the Start” while another lay down in front of railings.

Protester Ginette Evans, 60, from Fleetwood, said: “We’ll be monitoring the site 24 hours a day. It is definitely not over, it has just got serious.

She said the there was a mood of disappointment among protesters.

She added: “I’m gutted really. It’s such a dangerous industry and it shouldn’t be here.”

Justin Vanparys, 47, from Blackburn, said: “Fossil fuels should stay in the ground. We have already got global warming.”

He said activists had not been listened to but added: “That just makes you come back even stronger.”

The work had been due to start on Saturday but was delayed by the effects of Storm Callum.

It followed an environmental campaigner failing in a bid to halt the work at the High Court on Friday.

At the hearing in London, Mr Justice Supperstone dismissed Bob Dennett’s application for an injunction preventing the company from fracking the UK’s first horizontal shale gas well pending his proposed legal challenge.

Mr Dennett claimed Lancashire County Council’s emergency response planning and procedures at the site were inadequate, but the judge ruled there was not a “serious issue” to be tried which would justify an interim order.

Fracking for shale gas is taking place for the first time in seven years as the UK Government kicks off the first Green GB Week initiative to highlight the green economy.

It comes after a UN report warned of the urgent need to cut emissions to avoid dangerous climate change, and that carbon from electricity, heating homes, transport, industry and land use must reach net zero by 2050.

Craig Bennett, Friends of the Earth chief executive, said: “The world’s leading climate scientists have published findings that couldn’t be starker: to have a hope of containing global warming we must take action now.

“Yet, ironically, on the same day the government boldly asks how it can reduce carbon emissions to zero, fracking begins.

“It is morally bankrupt to be heralding the start of a whole new fossil fuel industry when climate catastrophe awaits. You can deal with climate change or you can have fracking – you can’t do both.”</s>LONDON (AP) — Protesters have gathered near a shale gas exploration site in northwestern England, as fracking began in the U.K. for the first time since 2011. Hydraulic fracturing had been stalled in the country…

LONDON (AP) — Protesters have gathered near a shale gas exploration site in northwestern England, as fracking began in the U.K. for the first time since 2011.

Hydraulic fracturing had been stalled in the country after two earthquakes in the same area led to legal challenges. Environmental campaigners failed last week in Britain’s High Court to keep the work in Lancashire from proceeding.

Energy firm Cuadrilla said in a statement Monday that it was “pleased to confirm that it has started hydraulic fracturing operations at our Preston New Road shale gas exploration site.”

The company plans to drill at two horizontal exploration wells for about three months. Demonstrators say they’ll monitor the site around the clock.

Protester Ginette Evans said Monday: “The fight’s just really started.”

Copyright © 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.</s>Protesters have gathered near a shale gas exploration site in northwestern England, as fracking began in the UK for the first time since 2011, AP reported. Hydraulic fracturing had been stalled in the country after two earthquakes in the same area led to legal challenges. Last week, environmental campaigners failed in Britain’s High Court to keep the work in Lancashire from proceeding. Energy firm Cuadrilla said on Monday that it was “pleased to confirm that it has started hydraulic fracturing operations at our Preston New Road shale gas exploration site.” The company plans to drill at two horizontal exploration wells for about three months. Demonstrators say they’ll monitor the site around the clock.</s>Fracking has begun in Britain for the first time since drilling caused earthquakes seven years ago.

Shale gas operator Cuadrilla confirmed the move at its Preston New Road site in a statement. “Hydraulic fracturing of both horizontal exploration wells is expected to last three months after which the flow rate of the gas will be tested,” it read.

The company’s operations outside Blackpool were given the final nod from government in September.

A last-ditch attempt to prevent it was launched by local resident Robert Dennett, who won an interim injunction against Lancashire County Council on the grounds that its emergency planning was inadequate. But on Friday, the High Court rejected the injunction.

More than 40 activists from campaign group Reclaim the Power also attempted to stop drilling by blockading the site with a van during the early hours of the morning. The erected a scaffold structure on top with a banner reading, “Stop The Start. Don’t Frack the Climate”.

Charlie Edwards, from Reclaim the Power said: “Today the government launched its ‘Green Great Britain’ week – a tokenistic attempt to hide a series of climate wrecking decisions such as expanding Heathrow airport and forcing fracking on the local communities.”

The government was heavily criticised by Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the Green Party for maintaining its support for the industry, despite warnings from climate scientists last week that time was running to keep global temperature rises within 1.5C.

It was also hypocritical in the light of energy minister Claire Perry’s request to its climate change advisers for advice on reducing the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero, they said.

Catherine Early is a freelance environmental journalist and chief reporter for The Ecologist. She was formerly the deputy editor of the Environmentalist. She can be found tweeting at @Cat_Early76.</s>Activists have attempted to blockade a fracking site in Lancashire as operations began for the first time in seven years in the UK. Campaigners from Reclaim the Power used a van to block the entrance to the site on Preston New Road near Blackpool early on Monday. One protester climbed on top of a scaffold and locked his neck to it. Police dispersed the protesters and the energy company Cuadrilla commenced with planned operations
• Fracking begins in UK for first time since 2011
Fracking for shale gas begins in the United Kingdom for the first time since it was suspended in 2011 after being linked to a series of earthquakes. Cuadrilla Resources say they will spend at least three months fracking two horizontal wells in Lancashire.