England has become the latest country to ban shale gas extraction – or fracking – amid renewed fears over the risk of earthquakes.

The country’s Government pulled support for the controversial practice after the UKs Oil and Gas Authority warned that it is not possible to make predictions about tremors caused by the practice.

UK Secretary of State for Energy Andrea Leadsom said the Government was no longer convinced it can be carried out safely and said a moratorium on the practice would come into effect immediately.

She said no new contracts will be issued unless compelling new evidence shows it is safe.

“We can no longer be certain of the safety of shale gas exploration, and we always want to be led by the science,” she said.

“Therefore we've decided that we cannot take this further at the time being.”

The temporary structure, outside the Preston New Road fracking site, 02-11-2019. Image: in Lancashire. Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire/PA Images

Fracking had been suspended in the UK since a series of quakes were recorded at a fracking site in Lancashire this year.

Supporters of the practice have claimed the moratorium is an overreaction; however, it has been welcomed by communities campaigning for the closure of fracking sites.

Campaigner Eddie Thornton who lives near a proposed site in Yorkshire said: "The moratorium represents a significant victory for communities like mine up and down the country that have been fighting fracking for so long.”

"But the timing of this announcement will now be lost on anyone.

“It's a cynical attempt to grease the wheels of Boris Johnson's election bus."

Fracking is already banned in Scotland and Wales.

Ireland became the fourth country in the world to officially ban the practice last year.

Concerns have been raised n recent weeks about plans to allowing companies to import fracked gas into the country despite the ban.

Hollywood actor Mark Rufallo is among those who have warned it would be a climate ‘disaster.’