The comments were made by local councillor and South Charlton farmer Robert Thorp, following a cross-examination of npower planning expert Dr Jonathan Edis on Friday afternoon.

Asked by SANE and CPRE advocate Tina Douglass how he rated the views to and from landmarks including Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh castles, and Holy Island, Dr Edis said: "They are nationally important.

"With structures of that antiquity, historical significance and background, we can't deny that they are important cultural assets, but the fact is that these views are extremely distant.

"Absolutely, we should be cautious, but we should also be reasonable and balanced in taking into account the very great distances involved in what is a very narrow arc of the whole view."

But Mr Thorp said: "The closest listed building to this wind farm will be less than a kilometre away.

"I cannot conceive how this development will not have an impact right across the landscape east of the A1, all the way to the coast."

Report: Day 4 - Morning