PEOPLE living near a North-East wind farm could receive new television equipment following a raft of complaints over poor picture quality.

Scores of people living on the Watergate Estate in Crook, County Durham, are understood to be blaming the nearby Broom Hill wind farm on their declining TV reception.

Turbines have been on the site for some time but Dennis Halliday, of Hawes Crescent, says the problem has only arisen in the past few weeks.

“They seem to build them and bring them online one at a time and I think it must be this last one or two that has done it,” said Mr Halliday.

“We have three televisions and the Sky dish works fine, but we have trouble with the other two which are on the aerial.

“You can just see the tips (of the turbine) from the bedroom and when they’re not turning the reception is fine, which seems pretty conclusive to me.”

Mr Halliday, 70, a retired firefighter, enjoys watching documentaries and Spanish football, but is now forced to share a television with wife Joan – a Dancing on Ice fan.

Stephen Russ, from Crook-based Russ Aerials, said he has fitted many aerials in the area and taken several complaints.

He said: “We went back out to this one job and we were on the roof when we spotted the turbines and the penny dropped.”

Mr Russ said the problem only affects televisions on the Pontop Pike transmitter and that residents could receive free satellite systems to fix it.

“There are still issues though,” he said. “You could have a 90-year-old lady who is used to a TV with a few buttons on it, who doesn’t want a new system.

“Or you could have a house with five points coming off the same aerial who are reduced to one.”

A spokesman for EDF Energy, which owns the wind farm, said they are aware of the problem.

“We are carrying out a thorough investigation into whether this interference is as a result of the wind turbines in Broom Hill and to identify which residents might be affected,” he said.

“Subject to the results of final surveys, and in line with our commitment to the local community, we will arrange for remedial equipment to be installed in properties affected by the wind turbines as soon as possible.”

Anyone who believes they are affected is asked to call 0191-512-5837.