PROVIDED the off-shore tapping and utilising of the coal gas (Echo, Jan 31) turns out to be an unmixed blessing, that it does not add to the carbon output in the atmosphere and global warming, I see a substantial investment by the Government in our long term future.

However, we must hope that the lead time is not too far into the future.

It is good that the scientific research has gone ahead and there are entrepreneurs who are thinking of future developments.

There do seem to be unsolved problems associated with fracking onshore that do not appear to apply offshore.

It might be premature to think in terms of a bonanza and, even if there turns out to be one for us, it is well into the future unless there is some factor I have not recognised.

G Bulmer, Billingham.