THE pressure group 38 Degrees held a lively meeting in Skipton,

Twenty-seven attendees joined in discussions about the NHS, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, austerity and fracking.

It was mooted that currently the most pressing issue was fracking as permission had been given for companies to begin drilling in Kirby Misperton, Ryedale, and consent was being sought in East Lancashire.

And the meeting was told that Craven could soon be affected as a decision was taken in February to remove the protection from fracking afforded to national parks.

The group will show the Academy-nominated documentary, Gasland, which documents the effects of hydraulic fracturing on US communities, in Carleton Village Hall on Tuesday from 7pm.

A proposal to plan and organise a big public meeting with other local groups was well received.

The meeting closed with a display of photographs beamed into the hall from the End Austerity March in London, taken by 38 Degrees Skipton member Steve Davies.