SORRY to spoil the festive atmosphere, but we just had to use the ‘F’ word again today.

To many people, fracking is a swear word, so vehement is their opposition to the controversial gas extraction process.

Others hail it as the answer to our energy prayers, guaranteeing supplies, cutting our reliance on imports and bringing prices down.

This is going to be the next big battle of ecology versus economy and it could well be fought on our own doorsteps.

One way or another, we are all going to be getting fractious about fracking in 2014.