“Fracking” is not the answer to all our energy concerns, according to a Labour minister.

Shadow environment secretary Caroline Flint made the comments to The Argus when asked about the recent high-profile protests at Balcombe, near Haywards Heath.

After hundreds of people protested in the village, drilling firm Cuadrilla announced it would stop exploratory work at the site.

When asked if she supported the drilling technique, Ms Flint said: “It's important for us to look at what energy we have.

“I do not think we know enough about it [fracking] and should not think it gives us all the answers.

“We need a balance between all the potential forms of energy to make sure we can keep the lights on.

“A reasonable thing to do is not thinking it's the answer to all our energy concerns.”

Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, is the process of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at a high pressure in order to fracture shale rocks to release natural gas inside.

On Sunday, a group of anti-fracking protesters lobbied outside the Brighton Centre to make delegates aware of their cause.

Ms Flint said: “When I came into this job nearly two years ago I made it very clear that before exploratory drilling took place there were six tests that had be carried out.

“Where we differ from the Greens [who are opposed to it] is we realise that there needs to be a practical approach to supplying energy.

“That includes recognising that nuclear energy has a role to play.”