BLADES from an 18m high wind turbine have snapped off after a night of heavy rain and winds.

The turbine in a field near Bishop Auckland was built last year after planning permission was granted in November, 2011.

The 18m high turbine, which had a blade diameter of 16m, was in a field between Brusselton Lane and the A68 at Brusselton near West Auckland.

It was built by High West Thickley Farm at Brusselton but the farmer was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

All three blades had snapped off the turbine with debris scattered across the field, some at least 36m away from the tower.

The destruction was discovered this morning (January 29)after a night of heavy rain and wind in the Bishop Auckland area.