I NOTICE the demo season is in full flow with the usual rent-a-mob appearing in Sussex protesting against an oil exploration rig. Perhaps protesters should make themselves familiar with the actual situation rather than over hyped “Chinese Whisper” stories..

I recently came across a report produced by the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering available online at raeng.org.uk/shale which gives a really good overview of the subject. What surprised me when browsing through this was that the local Wytch Farm oilfield was entirely”fracked” in the 1970s and has around 200 separate wells.

I can’t say that I noticed any earthquakes, water pollution or excessive destruction of the environment nor has there been any flames coming out of my water taps.

We need the prospective wealth generated by our potential gas reserves to avoid our children and grandchildren living in increasing poverty as the rest of the world becomes increasingly able to replicate anything we can do or make in the UK.

Read the document and make up your own mind ignoring the stuff being spouted by the “Swampies”.

ALAN HOOPER, Verulam Road, Poole