AN energy company is hoping its amended plans for a wind farm will win public and planning approval.

Last year, Cornwall Light and Power unveiled its proposals to site six 125 metre-high turbines at South Sharpley Farm, near Seaham.

At the time, the firm called on the public to voice their views on the proposal and, as a result of the general feedback, the company has scaled down its plans.

This week, the amended scheme, which is earmarked for the same rural location, was again placed on public exhibition.

This time, however, the scheme includes only four wind turbines, which have also been reduced to a proposed size of 100 metres.

Details of the venture went on display in Seaton Community Centre, where residents were again invited to give their views on the scheme.

The company says the four wind turbines will provide enough clean, emissions-free electricity to power more than 6,500 homes.

They would, says Cornwall Light and Power, contribute ten megawatts (MW) towards County Durham's target of 82MW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2010.

Cornwall Light and Power operates two wind turbines at nearby High Sharpley Farm, which went into operation in January last year.

People visiting the exhibition were told the two schemes combined would provide enough renewable electricity to power more than 8,500 households - more than the total number of homes in Seaham.

Bob Morgan, project development manager at Cornwall Light and Power, said yesterday: "We have made a number of alterations to our proposals based on feedback received from the local community in April of last year.'' He said, after the findings from the initial consultation: "We were keen to present our revised plans before submitting our planning application to the council.'' The Cornwall Light and Power Company is based in Truro and was established more than a decade ago to build one of the first wind farms in the country - at Goonhilly Downs - which has been operating successfully ever since.