A CAMPAIGN to stop developers building a wind farm in part of the North-East countryside has begun.

Residents of Kiln Pit Hill and Unthank, on the Northumberland-County Durham border, fear the proposed eight turbines will be more than a blot on the landscape.

Twenty-five people from the hamlets have formed a group to try to stop Npower Renewables erecting the 100m generators.

Michelle Eagle, 44, from Kiln Pit Hill said: "The reason we live here is that it is a beautiful place and this will spoil it completely.

"People such as cyclists and walkers come here to enjoy the view, but if it goes ahead, all they will be able to see are the wind turbines.

"It is a great place for tourists because of the wildlife and tranquility. People come here because it is unspoilt."

The group is planning a leaflet campaign, a petition, which will be sent to Tynedale District Council, and is in the process of setting up a website to keep people informed.

Mrs Eagle said residents feared the impact the turbines would have on wildlife.

She said concerns had also been expressed about how noise from the turbines would affect residents' quality of life.

Tynedale District Council said it had not yet received a planning application for a wind farm at Kiln Pit Hill, but Npower Renewables development executive Nigel Moore confirmed the company's interest in the site.

He said energy companies had to provide ten per cent of their electricity from renewable resources by 2010 or face hefty fines.

The Government wants 20 per cent of electricity to be green by 2020, meaning companies are under pressure to look for windy areas to maximise power generation.

Mr Moore said: "It is not an option or a defence to do nothing.

"There is an emerging environmental crisis regarding carbon dioxide emissions and we are trying to avoid that.

"We have also got an energy problem and are running out of it ourselves.

"Every community has got to make a contribution and in the future energy generation will be a lot more local."

Npower Renewables is planning to hold a series of public meetings as part of a public consultation exercise.