LORD Chris Smith has been forced to admit that fracking faces an “uphill struggle” for public acceptance.

His shale gas task force released a report yesterday on fracking’s effect on the environment and public health, funded by companies involved in the practice.

It maintains that shale gas extraction can go ahead safely providing certain conditions are met, there was transparency towards the public and -independent monitoring was in place.

Among the conditions the report calls for are public disclosure of the chemicals used in the process and participation by community representatives who are allowed to visit the fracking site and go to the laboratory to see samples tested.

Lord Smith said that such measures would provide a “chance of re-establishing trust.”