MONMOUTHSHIRE County Council (MCC) has voted to support an immediate moratorium on fracking in the county.

A motion was originally submitted by the Labour group for the council who called for MCC to support Welsh Labour's commitment to devolve licensing powers relating to the extraction and exploitation of onshore shale gas.

This was amended by Councillor Bob Greenland who believed the moratorium shouldn't be devolved to the Welsh Government.

Cllr Greenland said: "Through the amended motion on fracking, the council expressed the view that there should be a moratorium on fracking whilst the impact on our environment and homes could be properly assessed and understood.

"It would be unwise at this stage to rule out the option of fracking completely as to do so might well deny us a future substantial income from our gas reserves.

"It may also endanger our continuity of energy in the event that oil producing countries cut off or reduced our access to oil.

"The Westminster Government has now proposed that exploration licensing is devolved to Wales.

"If the Welsh Government is in tune with Labour councillors on MCC, then exploration will never happen and this potential income and energy security will be denied the people of Wales."