... says it will only resume once there's evidence it's safe

The British Government is imposing an immediate moratorium on fracking, saying the industry risks causing too much disruption to local communities through earth tremors.

Key points:

• The decision follows an incident near Blackpool in August where a magnitude-2.9 tremor shook houses
• A report found it was not currently possible to accurately predict tremors linked to fracking operations
• Fracking only recommenced in the UK last year after a previous seven-year moratorium

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Government had previously signalled its support for the shale gas industry as it sought ways to cut Britain's reliance on imports of natural gas, which is used to heat about 80 per cent of Britain's homes.

But fracking, which involves extracting gas from rocks by breaking them up with water and chemicals at high pressure, is fiercely opposed by environmentalists who say it is at odds with Britain's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The announcement comes as Mr Johnson gears up for an election on December 12.

"Exploratory work to determine whether shale could be a new domestic energy source in the UK … has now been paused — unless and until further evidence is provided that it can be carried out safely here," the Business and Energy Department said in a statement.

The decision follows a report on an incident at a site run by British energy company Cuadrilla near Blackpool, northwest England, where a magnitude-2.9 tremor shook houses in August.

An anti-fracking campaign by local people emerged as a flashpoint in a growing climate activist movement opposing new fossil fuel projects around the world.