A TORFAEN councillor is making a stand against fracking.

Upper Cwmbran Cllr Mary Barnett has condemned the practice and warns it could cause water contamination and air pollution.

She plans to table a motion against shale gas extraction at a council meeting on October 20.

And she wants the council to write to the Welsh Government to back its fracking moratorium.

The Labour councillor said: “There is insufficient scrutiny of current fracking operations in the UK.

"These risk irreversibly polluting fragile water resources and established nature and tourism resources.

"Exploration of unconventional fossil fuel may undermine the economic rationale for investing in a clean energy future.”

Her motion requests that Torfaen council officers take all possible steps to ensure that the environment in the borough and the amenity of its residents are protected.

It also calls on Torfaen council to write to the Welsh Government in support of its stance of a fracking moratorium in Wales.