The findings will now be evaluated further

In December 2002, Australian company Roc Oil was given permission to drill for gas and oil, near Bingfield, north of Corbridge, in Northumberland.

In a report to the Stock Exchange, the company said it had discovered "a thick interval of gas bearing sands".

The company is due to hold a meeting with local councillors and residents on Tuesday night.

In its Stock Exchange report, ROC's chief executive officer Dr John Doran said: "It is far too early to comment on the potential commercial significance of the Errington gas discovery."

Noise levels

He added: "In any event, it is always nice to find gas bearing sands in an area where they haven't been found before."

Resident Ian Crawford, who had objected to the drilling, said noise had been on or below limits and the company had been as good as could have been hoped for, although light had been a problem.

But he said they would not be particularly pleased if the process continued.

He said: "I think it's fair to say it's disappointing from our perspective as all the previous indications that we have been given was that nothing was likely to be found.

"But I think it's important to emphasise at this stage it's still all speculation.

"I think it's one thing hitting gas but quite another getting it out in the quantities needed to make money."