The Government has given the go-ahead for fracking at a site in Lancashire, overturning the county council's decision on the scheme and raising concerns for the future of the Dee estuary.

The controversial process can now go ahead at Preston New Road, Fylde, after Communities Secretary Sajid Javid gave the green light for shale company Cuadrilla to drill up to four wells.

The move has been slammed by Wirral West MP Margaret Greenwood who said: "I am very disappointed that the Tory government has over-ruled the wishes of local people and environmentalists world-wide and approved plans to allow fracking in Lancashire.

"This is a real blow to all those local people who are concerned about the serious environmental impact of fracking and the effect it will have on their communities.

"At last week's Labour Party conference, my colleague Barry Gardiner, Labour's Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change, announced that a future Labour government would ban fracking. He made it clear: we must move to a low carbon economy.

"Everyone knows how important it is to tackle climate change. It's vital not just for this generation, but for our children and our children's children.

"The Tories' decision to give the go ahead to fracking shows just how out of touch they are on this issue.

"I am also concerned about what this may mean for the Dee Estuary.

"I have repeatedly asked the government about their position on Underground Coal Gasification, but have received no assurances that this won't go ahead."

But North West MEP Paul Nuttall welcomed the Communties Secretary's decision to overrule local councillors.

“I congratulate Sajid Javid on approving Caudrilla’s plans as I believe that fracking has the potential to make a huge difference to our energy problems,” said Mr Nuttall, UKIP Euro MP.

"Shale gas offers a much better energy source than ugly wind farms and solar panels and as the drilling takes underground it does not create massive industrial blight such as oil refineries.

“It is anticipated that energy prices, which can be crippling for the elderly and jobless, may well be halved, as happened in the USA, and that must surely we welcomed by all.

“The Caudrilla plans for the two Fylde sites at Little Plumpton and Roseacre Wood involve horizontal drilling rather than vertical drilling which is believed to have led to minor earthquakes near Blackpool.

“This method should avoid that possibility but I do understand concerns of local people about the affect on their environment."

Following a public inquiry into the two schemes, the planning inspector recommended the Preston New Road scheme, originally supported by Lancashire County Council officials but turned down by the planning committee.

The inspector recommended that Cuadrilla's appeal to be allowed to frack at another site, Roseacre Wood, be dismissed.

But Mr Javid said he was giving Cuadrilla and other people further opportunity to address concerns about the site, and was "minded" to allow the appeal and grant planning permission if issues surrounding highway safety could be dealt with.

Environmentalists and local campaign groups reacted angrily to the decision, which they said went against the wishes of residents.

Friends of the Earth North West campaigner Helen Rimmer said: "This is bad news for Lancashire - the community have been fighting fracking for more than five years. This fight continues until this unproven and unpopular industry disappears for good.

"Instead of shoving us down a dangerous path that inevitably leads to climate change, the Government should invest in renewables and energy efficiency, an emerging industry that could create 24,000 jobs in the North West alone."

Greenpeace campaigner Hannah Martin said: "Theresa May cannot build a 21st century industrial strategy on a polluting and inexperienced fracking sector that won't deliver for years, if ever.

"If the PM wants to promote an affordable and fair energy system whilst bolstering business growth and job creation, renewable and smart energy technologies are the way to go."

When David Cameron was prime minister, he said the Government was going "all out for shale" to boost the economy, jobs and energy security, and soon after she took over as PM, Theresa May launched a consultation which could see home owners receive individual payments for fracking wells drilled nearby.

But the process - in which liquid is pumped deep underground at high pressure to fracture shale rock and release gas - remains highly controversial, with many protesters turning out for the public inquiry.

Opponents of fracking fear the process can cause earthquakes, pollute water, lead to damaging development in the countryside and hit house prices.

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "The Communities Secretary has today allowed three planning appeals related to two proposed shale gas exploration and monitoring sites in Lancashire.

"The decisions follow extensive consideration of all the evidence, including an independent planning inspector's report and evidence submitted during a two-week public inquiry."