ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners have reacted with alarm after a Government report revealed the potential for controversial fracking in some of the region's most scenic landscapes.

According to a British Geological Survey (BGS), shale gas resources may be far greater than previously thought, with possible reserves under the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales.

The report was published on the same day the Government unveiled a package of planning reforms to enable shale gas exploration.

Benefits were also announced for communities living in areas where shale was commercially extracted, including £100,000 for each well and one per cent of revenues from every production site.

The report by the BGS and the Department of Energy and Climate Change contained maps showing possible gas resources under the North York Moors National Park, the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Nidderdale AONB.

The countrsyide surrounding Thirsk, York and Harrogate could also contain the gas, experts believe.

Energy Minister Michael Fallon said: “Shale gas represents an exciting new potential energy resource for the UK, and could play an important part in our energy mix.

“The next step for industry is to establish how much gas is technically and commercially recoverable.”

But Friends of the Earth Energy energy campaigner Tony Bosworth said the potential for shale gas to solve the UK's energy challenges had been “hugely over-hyped”.

"Extracting shale gas will have a significant effect on local communities and our environment - the more that's extracted, the bigger those impacts will be.

"The North could be at the heart of Britain’s green energy and economic transformation, but not by turning it into another 'gaslands'.”

Leslie Rowe, North Yorkshire Green Party campaigner, also raised concerns.

“They have to use huge amounts of water which is mixed with chemicals such as anti-freeze. Most of that would mix with water courses and in areas like the North York Moors it could poison the water for a large part of North Yorkshire.”

Mark Hill, head of development management for the North York Moors National Park Authority, said officers had already had talks with companies investigating feasibility of extracting gas in the park.

“We are keeping an eye on government policy and shale gas industry developments,” he added.

Professor Richard Davies, director of Durham Energy Institute at Durham University, has conducted research into the risks and consequences of shale fracking.

The institute's research found that some risks were not as severe as people feared, however there remained other potential consequences that needed consideration.

“Fracking itself doesn't cause significant earthquakes, or hasn't yet, and it doesn't cause water contamination.

“But the process does involve quite a few truck movements for example for the first month or so.”