The new report, published on Saturday by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), warned the technique had a dangerously high risk of causing disruption to local communities through earth tremors of unpredictably high magnitude. The government responded by announcing it would therefore issue a complete ban on the procedure. The moratorium will stay in place until new evidence shows the shale gas extraction process is safe, the government said.

Sky news reports: Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had “very considerable anxieties” about fracking, which is a controversial method of extracting shale gas.

The government has withdrawn support and said it will block further proposals to change the planning process for fracking sites.

It has previously supported shale gas exploration and fracking, which it considered a means to produce a domestic, low-carbon fuel alternative.

It also marks a sharp U-turn for Mr Johnson, who once hailed fracking as “glorious news for humanity” and said energy companies “should leave no stone unturned, or unfracked

Fracking had been expected to feature prominently in the campaign for the 12 December general election.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has branded the stoppage “an election stunt to try and win a few votes”.