Fracking firms target sites close to Scottish cities

Nine companies have applied to drill for shale gas in 19 sites, each covering 100 sq km, in heavily populated areas of central Scotland

Major energy and fracking companies have made new bids to exploit large shale gas reserves close to many of central Scotland's biggest towns and cities.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) has disclosed that nine companies have applied to drill for shale gas on 19 sites, each covering 100 sq km, in heavily populated areas close to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Motherwell, Linlithgow, Bathgate, Rosyth and Kirkcaldy.