Image source, PA Media

Image caption, Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh and Chancellor John Healey visited the St Fergus Gas Terminal on Wednesday

By James Cook Scotland editor and Graeme Esson BBC Scotland

The UK government has approved production from the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea amid intense debate about the project's environmental and economic impact.

Ministers said the first gas could be produced by the end of this month, helping heat millions of homes, and also announced the creation of a new energy wealth fund.

But environmental campaigners said the decision would hamper efforts to tackle climate change and make "no meaningful difference" to UK energy security.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the prime minister of "dithering" on Jackdaw and said a ban on new oil and gas licences should be repealed - but Andy Burnham said her party had "messed up" the original decision.

Jackdaw is situated 150 miles (241km) east of Aberdeen and is…