Women gathered outside the Labour Women’s Conference on Saturday to show their opposition to fracking.

The group called for Labour leaders to reject the controversial technique of extracting oil which has seen the Balcombe community turn into a protest camp.

Under the slogan Frocking not Fracking, the group convened outside the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel in King’s Road, Brighton, to voice their opinions.

Brenda Pollock, Friends of the Earth’s south east campaigner, said the day went really well and that she hoped it sent a message to the politicians.

Women came from across the country in support of the campaign, and grandmother Caroline Raffan, a glass artist and member of East Kent Against Fracking from Deal, Kent, said: “I’ve voted Labour most of my life. I feel they should do more on the environment. I want to see strong policies to stop this mad dash for gas and give voters a proper chance to support renewable energy.”

Further north, Justine Stopforth, a nurse and member of Ribble Estuary Against Fracking, from Hesketh Bank, Lancashire said: “I’m worried about what fracking will do to our health and how it will affect local growers. The regulations that are supposed to protect us seem to exist to give companies carte blanche to drill in our beautiful county. Every step of the way residents have had to fight hard to stop profits ruling over people.”

The site in Balcombe has caused a storm in Mid Sussex, with more than 100 arrests made outside the site owned by energy firm Cuadrilla.

Louise Somerville-Williams, an IT trainer and member of Frack Free Somerset, from Glastonbury, Somerset said: “As a concerned parent and registered voter I am appalled about this government’s plans to cover our countryside in drill rigs.”