It was ‘seconds out, round one’ in the controversial fight to stop fracking on the west Lancashire and Sefton border at the first of two important meetings in Haskayne on Saturday.

Called by ‘Halsall Against Fracking’ the information and awareness gathering in the morning and afternoon was held a week before a similar one’s staged by Aurora Energy.

Around 50 residents who’ll be affected by Aurora's operations in their licence areas (PEDL 164, 261 and 262) met to express their concerns and formulate questions Aurora will be asked at this Saturday’s public information event at Haskayne Village Hall.

The afternoon session provided a forum for the residents to ask questions of the speakers and discuss amongst themselves their many concerns; many had clearly done their own research to inform themselves about the possible consequences of Aurora's plans prior to the meeting and the questions they intend to pose will demonstrate that level of knowledge.

Speakers at the meeting were Roy Cunliffe (Haskayne Resident Association), Maureen Mills (The Moss Alliance), Jim Nisbet, former chair of the Roseacre Awareness Group, John Wilkinson (Frack Free Formby), Dr. Stephen Garsed of the Blackburn Diocese Environment group and Helen Rimmer (Friends of the Earth) - also in attendance was local MP Rosie Cooper.