FRACKING could cut house prices, increase traffic and noise, and damage the rural landscape according to the full version of a government report which was published yesterday.

The release of the uncensored copy of the internal document come days after Lancashire County councillors rejected two applications for the controversial drilling process between Preston and Blackpool.

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Opponents of fracking for shale gas accused the government of covering up the most controversial aspects of the study until after the decisions were taken.

The internal document, ‘Shale Gas: Rural Economy Impacts’, had several key sections obscured when published by the Environment Department last summer.

It has now been forced by the information commissioner to publish the full document, revealing potential negative impacts had been deleted.

On Monday, Lancashire County Council’s development control committee rejected a fracking scheme by Cuadrilla at Little Plumpton despite the fact planning officials had recommended approval.

The previous week the councillors had turned down a similar application by the firm to drill at nearby Roseacre Wood.

The decisions were welcomed by campaigners concerned approval could have led to similar bids in East Lancashire.

Friends of the Earth energy campaigner Tony Bosworth said: “No wonder Defra sat on this explosive report until after the Lancashire decisions.”

Cuadrilla may appeal the planning decisions.