A TRIO of campaigners have come up with a solution which they believe will solve the dilemma surrounding plans to erect 50-foot pylons across south Cumbria.

Peter Gillett, Graham Robinson and Charles Rowntree formed a collective to start up a "No Giant Pylons" campaign after National Grid revealed plans to build towering metal structures across the Duddon Valley.

The proposed route will see pylons built from Silecroft through Whicham Valley before going around the Duddon Estuary towards Roose.

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However, the three men have produced an alternative offshore vision which will see cables taken out to sea from Kirksanton in a trench to a depth of 15 metres before running along the coast and returning to land at South Walney.

Cables will then run underground to Roose before connecting with the £1.2bn tunnel which is going to be built under Morecambe Bay.

Mr Gillett, 75, a former shipyard boss who lives in Ireleth, does not want to see the Duddon Valley ruined by gigantic metal pylons the size of Barrow town hall and believes that this is an effective solution to the problem.

He said: "The only way to get rid of pylons is to go offshore. National Grid have all the information but they won't tell me what the cost of this will be.

"They are wrecking the Duddon Valley, which is an extremely beautiful area that quite frankly should be part of the National Park.

"The whole thing is outrageous. The drive along the A595 is very scenic and it's going to be completely ruined by 50-metre high pylons that will be twice the height of the existing ones."

Charles Rowntree, who lives in Beckside, is also adamant that the trio's idea will be less devastating to the valley than the one proposed by the National Grid.

He said: "It will crucify it. If you go up the Duddon estuary and see the current pylons and think those are high, the new ones are going to be almost twice the size. It's incredible.

"Also the current pylons only carry six cables whereas the new ones will carry 18 cables which will be much more prominent.

"It will be an act of vandalism and we resent that. They would make a total mess of the Duddon estuary which is within the National Park setting and shouldn't be touched under planning regulations."

The 78-year-old also wants to encourage people to submit individual objections to National Grid.

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He said: "They don't have to back our idea but they need to write to National Grid saying that they don't want the pylons and why.

"Everybody in the house, including children can write on a separate form - it is not limited to one per household.

"I know people who have friends in Australia and USA who are writing because they are horrified by the idea and people need to do the same around here."

Those who wish to write a letter of objection to National Grid can do so by emailing nationalgrid@northwestcoastconnections.com or by writing to FREEPOST NG NWCC.

You can also view the campaign group's idea in full by clicking here.