Residents have strongly opposed  plans to build a wind turbine near a picturesque village.

As part of two proposals for the Furness area, United Utilities held a public consultation yesterday as they look to put forward plans to erect a 60-metre high wind turbine to power their waste water plant near Newbiggin.

A number of residents who attended the consultation at Aldingham Parish Hall, in Scales, registered their displeasure.

Peter Richards, of  Malt Kiln Road, Newbiggin, said: "I am totally anti-turbine. Everybody here has said enough is enough.

"It is time we put a stop to the blight of wind power."

Another resident of Newbiggin, Ewan Dixon, said he believed that turbines like the one proposed could harm the countryside and damage the scenery for years to come.

He said: "They are spoiling the environment and the growth of these over time is destroying the countryside.

"These will ruin the scenery and it will be ruining the landscape for the future generation."

At the consultation, residents were given the chance to look at some of the key details of the proposition.

David Hopkin, United Utilities project manager for the plan, said that there would be many benefits for residents and that the turbine would act as part of a more direct energy source for the area.

He said: "I feel there are many benefits and we are trying to produce renewable energy.

"In order to address any particular concerns I would welcome people to read our planning application and I would like to hope that it would answer any questions."

"Electricity costs are one of our biggest costs and we are working hard to reduce that."

Mr Hopkin said that following the consultation exercise, United Utilities was looking to submit a planning application to Cumbria County Council by early April.

Subject to planning permission being granted, construction would start on the site in 2016/17 and take around four months to complete.