Fracking experts are to speak to town hall bosses about the effect the controversial gas extraction process could have on Hyndburn.

Council leader Miles Parkinson has called for more information after the Observer last week revealed how the borough had been identified as a key site to excavate shale gas from underground.

The discovery has led to hopes that it could spark an economic revival in the area, while others have raised concerns over the environmental impact of the process.

The gas excavation firm Cuadrilla has been invited to appear at a meeting of Hyndburn Council in September to give more information about what the process involves.

Coun Parkinson said it was important councillors and the public had as much information as possible about fracking.

He said: “Within national and local media, this is a topic which is at the forefront, and especially in Lancashire within the Bowland Basin, so I think it’s very important a company which has been granted a license in the west of the county informs us about what they propose to do, and how it could benefit the local economy.

“And, of course, they can answer questions about safety from councillors and members of the public."

The Observer reported last week how 1,300 trillion cubic feet of shale gas had been discovered under Lancashire and Yorkshire, with the M65 corridor, including Hyndburn, identified as a prime target for fracking in the coming years.

A British Geological society report found there could be 1,300 trillion cubic feet of gas beneath Lancashire and Yorkshire, double previous estimates.

Cudrilla, which has carried out shale gas excavation elsewhere in the country, said the newly discovered reserves could create thousands of jobs.