A MOCK funeral procession has mourned the 'bypassing of democracy', after a UK fracking operation was given the go-ahead for the first time since 2011.

Transition Northwich and Frack Free Northwich organised the event on Saturday along Witton Street, after Cuadrilla was given permission to begin fracking at Preston New Road, near Blackpool.

The groups say new government plans mean no permission would be required for exploring for shale gas.

A Transition Northwich spokesman said: "Whether you’re for or against fracking, there is a current issue which runs deeper and is uniting those on both sides of the fracking controversy.

"It’s about the government’s latest plans to bypass local democracy and make fracking for shale gas as easy as building a garden shed."

The proposed changes mean no permission would be needed for exploring for gas, which, if found, would then need permission granted by central – rather than local – government.

A Frack Free Northwich spokesman said: "We’ve been participating in a national week of action.

“On Saturday morning, Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury showed his support for the campaign by braving Storm Callum and joining our mock funeral procession through Northwich town centre to mourn the demise of local democracy’s voice.

"We were also joined by two of our local councillors, one each from Northwich Town Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council.

"Some people may have found our procession disturbing, but we felt it was important enough to risk this in order to raise awareness about a potentially very serious issue which would affect our own countryside and communities as well as many other parts of England."

The 'Let Communities Decide' campaign is urging people to have their say in a government's 'permitted development for shale gas exploration' consultation, running until October 25.