A PETITION against fracking signed by 267,000 people was delivered to Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday.

A group of people from his Witney constituency came to the leader’s residence holding placards that spelled out the number of people who signed.

It came as MPs continued to debate the Infrastructure Bill in the House of Commons, which green groups have said will make fracking easier in the UK.

Fracking – or hydraulic fracturing – uses a high-pressure mix of water, sand and other chemicals to fracture rocks so gas can escape.

Environmentalists fear the controversial method may pollute water supplies, but the Government and industry leaders insist this does not happen if it is done safely.

A separate petition was also presented by 400 Witney residents.

It called on the Prime Minister to safeguard the right of homeowners to oppose fracking under their properties.

It comes after Mr Cameron told a parliamentary committee he would be “very happy” for fracking in Witney.

Witney resident Chris Tatton, who presented the petition, said: “David Cameron may be very happy about having fracking on his doorstep but millions of people across Britain are seriously concerned about it, and for good reasons too.”

The petition was supported by green groups including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF).

A spokeswoman for the PM said: “David, of course, will consider the petition and they will receive a response.”

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