PROTESTERS battling against controversial plans for a £50 million wind farm at Scout Moor have won the backing of well-known naturalist David Bellamy.

He led a 400-strong march up Knowle Moor where United Utilities and Peel Holdings want to build 26, 100-metre, three-blade turbines.

The Sunday march was organised by the Friends of Scout and Knowle Moor. Ann Metcalfe, who set up the group, said: "It was a tremendous event and far better than expected. There were about 400 people involved. Earlier, I'd written to Dr Bellamy to see if he would give us his support. He rang me after he returned from a trip to Holland and agreed to back us.

"It was a very memorable day, given it was Remembrance Sunday too. It was very moving when we reached the top. Dr Bellamy told us to listen to the silence and also said we all had the power to make things change."

She added: "Our feeling is that the local MPs may push for a public inquiry. These are ginormous turbines, twice the size of Nelson's Column and two-thirds of the size of Blackpool Tower. If these turbines are approved, they will be put across the skyline." The marchers were given free soup by staff at Nutter's Restaurant before trekking up Knowle Moor. Dr Bellamy addressed the crowd and underlined his objections to the wind farm proposals.

He has already branded the plans as "daft" and claims that wind farms elsewhere had shown that they were not the most environmentally friendly way to generate electricity.

United Utilities and Peel Holdings, which have submitted their application to the Department of Trade and Industry, have defended the wind farm proposal, saying it would help the north west to achieve its renewable energy target set by the Government.

If given the go-ahead, the turbines would generate enough electricity to supply the average needs of more than 50,000 homes.