Friends of the Earth has threatened North Yorkshire CC with legal action over a decision to green light a controversial fracking application.

The environmental group has signalled it may seek a judicial review into the matter in a letter to the local authority about its decision last month to approve an application by Third Energy.

‘Because the decision appears to have been arrived at without properly considering climate change we believe it to be unlawful,' said the group's legal adviser, Jake White.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire CC said the council's planning committee ‘gave proper regard to all material planning considerations' before approving the application and will respond to the Friends of the Earth letter in due course.