VILLAGERS were celebrating today after plans for a new wind farm on land near Clowbridge Reservoir in Burnley were thrown out.

Residents won their David and Goliath battle with power company United Utilities despite the fact that the proposals were set to be approved by councillors.

United Utilities announced last year they were considering building a wind farm on land they already own on moorland on the Burnley and Rossendale border at the Crown Point car park near to the Clowbridge Reservoir.

But after strong objections from local residents the plans were turned down at a planning meeting.

A petition of 121 signatures was handed in to the council and a party from the area went to the planning meeting to voice their disapproval of the plans.

Objections included the fact that the turbines would have been close to homes and would have scarred the landscape.

Dunnockshaw and Clowbridge Parish Council member Ron Riley said: "We were absolutely delighted and not a little surprised that the plans were turned down and we fell that common sense has prevailed.

"We are all for renewable energy, but these were going to be in the wrong place and would have dominated the area. Things like this should be built off-shore." The plans were set to include 12 wind turbines, one temporary and one permanent wind speed mast, access tracks and a building to covert the power to electricity.

United Utilities said the site was identified as having some of the characteristics needed to generate energy from wind, such as high wind speed, good access and a level of remoteness to limit the impact on local communities.

Ian Smith, business development manager for United Utilities Green Energy, said: "We are obviously disappointed by the decision.

"Over the last ten months, we consulted with more than 70 organisations when drawing up our proposals.

"Had this scheme been granted, we believe it would have generated clean, green electricity for 8,500 homes and helped combat global warming by reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

"Wind farms are an essential part of the Government's renewable energy targets, aimed at reducing global warming, and we now need to study the decision and consider our next move."