A FARMING family says the rejection of plans to install two wind turbines will cost them money.

Easington District Council, east Durham, turned down the application from A7 Energy because the turbines would have been near the dropping zone at the nearby Peterlee Parachute Centre and airfield.

The move has devastated the Musgrave family, of Edder Acres farm, where the wind turbines would have been. Brothers Raymond, 72, Frank, 71 and 69-year-old Morris Musgrave and their families have farmed the 200 acres of land since 1939 and in recent years have struggled to make ends meet.

Morris's wife, Norma, 65, said: "We were following the Government's advice to diversify and the turbines would have been financial lifesavers. Now we are left with a very uncertain future."

Peterlee Parachute Centre owner Ian Rosenvinge said the Civil Aviation Authority had ruled that turbines should not be within 1.5 miles of a dropping area.

He said: "I have full sympathy with the plight of the Musgraves and at a meeting with A7 and the planners, I offered to move our dropping zone but unfortunately a compromise could not be reached.''

It is understood A7 is considering appealing.