A group protesting against fracking for shale gas at Barton Moss have been left a little red-faced after making an urgent appeal – for gas.

The camp’s supply ran out Sunday morning and they tweeted from their account @BartonMoss “#bartonmoss URGENTLY needs water and gas for the cooker if anyone can help”.

Between 10 and 20 people live there at the moment, with more people attending daily protests, and they use the gas for cooking.

The tweet predictably attracted some ridicule on Twitter.

@InsiderOnEnergy who tweets anonymously about energy industry issues said: “Ironic really isn’t it?

“Why can we not live what we preach and use a sustainable source?”

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Colin Gong, 49, who works in alternative health and lives on the site at Barton Moss said: “It’s an easy line for people to take. Obviously I can see the irony, but we use gas that has been obtained by conventional extraction methods.

“If government policy had been geared toward renewable energy I could be using a solar cooker now but I’m not.”

Professor Ernest Rutter, who has spoken to the Manchester Evening News before about the economic benefits of fracking said: “It is quite funny, quite ironic. When I give talks to various groups around the north west I always ask them who has a car and who has a gas cooker. When a lot of them raise their hand I say 'Oh good, you're already on my side.'

"I don't see many of these protesters turning up in a horse and cart either.”

The camp, which has been established in protest to company Igas drilling for shale gas in the area, has been surviving on donations from supporters since December.

The camp has been the focus of much controversy including accusations that police are too violent, as well as some protesters, who usually refer to themselves as protectors, being arrested for assault.

An Igas spokesperson said: “We have worked extensively over the last few months with the various authorities to ensure the safety of everyone on and around site including protesters and neighbours. Our priority remains to conduct our operations safely, in an environmentally responsible manner and with consideration for the local community.”

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