WITH councils being offered greater incentives by the Government to back fracking, a company near Ilminster is concerned about the impact it may have in the county.

Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth and injecting a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into the rock at high pressure, allowing the gas to flow out.

Exploratory licences are in place in parts of North Somerset with the rest of the county highlighted as having fracking potential.

Phil Grabham, managing director of Ashill-based Solar Systems, said: “We aren't convinced that fracking will prove to be a long-term solution to our energy problems.

“We are very concerned by David Cameron's recent announcement that local authorities would receive 100% of the business rates collected from shale gas schemes as opposed to the usual 50%.

“We believe that not enough has been done to look into the impact fracking will have on local communities in the county as well as the environment.

“We hope councils in Somerset will take an extremely cautious approach before approving any future plans for fracking.”