Gas drilling plan at ex-colliery

Underground gas reserves in Staffordshire could provide up to 20 years of energy for the the UK, a government-approved energy firm says.

Greenpark Energy has a government licence and has applied to drill for gas in Tittensor, near Stafford.

Staffordshire County Council said it had received "several" planning applications to drill for gas recently.

The many former coal mines in the area means gas would be easy to extract, the firm said. A decision is due in 2010.