More than 100 objectors from across the county gathered at The Queen's Head Hotel, Morpeth, to find out more about the campaign by residents' group Put People First (PPF) to oppose the scheme for the 101m tall turbines by Novera Energy.

If proposals are successful, the huge turbines at Todd Hill, Pigdon, north west of Morpeth, will stand nearly five times higher than the town's historic Clock Tower, which is about 21 metres high, dwarfing nearby homes.

Award-winning holiday complex Beacon Hill stands a mile to the north of the proposed site and is the highest point for miles around.

The top of the turbines will stand 60 feet (18.3 metres) higher than holiday cottages, towering above visitors to the idyllic country retreat. On a clear day, they will be visible from the hills north of Alwinton to 10 miles out to sea.

Campaigner Keith Pugh, who lives just over a mile away from the proposed development site at Stanton, explained why residents are opposed to the scheme.

He said: "The largest man-made structures in this countryside are farm
buildings, country houses and the occasional church tower, all tiny in comparison to the turbines, which will be wholly alien and vast in comparison.

"I believe this is all wrong and that the applicants and the planners must work harder and with more consideration on our behalf, to identify and target those areas of Northumberland which are infinitely more suitable for industrial turbines. The fight back must start here."

Keith also argued that the blades of the turbines would be rotating close to 100 miles per hour in moderate winds of 15-20mph, 24 hours per day, creating a low pitched purring.

The World Health Organisation suggests that family dwellings should be situated at least two kilometres away from turbines that make this level of noise. At Todd Hill they would be 800 metres from the nearest houses at Pigdon.

Those who attended the meeting were adamant that the turbines were too big and too near to local houses.

John Redpath of Gorfenletch, said: "This is a nonsense application, entirely in the wrong location and destroying beautiful countryside near to civilisation. It's a poor application in the wrong place."

Val Windle of nearby Stanton, said: "These turbines are totally the wrong scale and height and don't fit into the natural landscape. They dwarf the highest natural landmark and that is entirely wrong."

Peter Coote of Harelaw, added: "I don't object to wind farms but the scale, size and location of this one is wrong. They're fine located in areas of less inhabitance, but not near villages and towns. They have their place, but when people are living less than 800metres from them, they are wrong."

Residents also fear that if planning permission be granted for the Todd Hill site, it will pave the way for the erection of more turbines in the future. In Powys, mid-Wales, Novera is currently seeking permission for a further 19 wind turbines next to the 17 currently sited at its existing Mynydd Clogau wind farm.

Protestors suggested that planning officers working for the new unitary Northumberland County Council, which comes into effect in April, must take a strategic look at wind farm applications across the county, rather than indiviudal borough councils looking at applications one-by-one.

During the meeting, PPF also gathered over 100 signatures for a petition which will be sent to the local council and planning committee, objecting to the turbines.

Chair of PPF and local resident Tim Weightman of Abshields, Morpeth, said: "We are delighted with the number of people who have taken the time to attend the public meeting and find out more about how Novera's proposals will affect them and their area.

"The support shown tonight reflects the strength of feeling residents have towards the wind turbines. Now that they know the facts – and the impact the wind turbines could have on the beautiful Northumbrian countryside, wildlife, tourism and house prices – we are hopeful they will make their feelings known by writing to Castle Morpeth Borough Council with their objections."

Objections to the turbines can be made by writing to Hugh Edmundson, Planning Services Manager, Castle Morpeth Borough Council, Longhirst Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 3LR, by February 4. The planning application is available to view at First Call, 28, Bridge Street, Morpeth, NE61 6NL. (Reference 20080866)

The 101m wind turbine's height is equivalent to approximately:

5 x Morpeth clock towers
26 x double decker buses
15 x standard lamp posts
5 x Angel of the North (height)
2 x Angel of the North (wing span)
2 x Gateshead Millennium Bridge (height)
1 x full length football pitch