A PLASTICS company hopes to erect wind turbines at its Newton Aycliffe plant to help power the factory with green energy.

Hydro Polymers is proposing the installation of two turbines on its PVC manufacturing site, on Aycliffe Industrial Estate.

It submitted a planning application for the scheme to Sedgefield Borough Council last week.

Neighbours will be consulted over the coming weeks before the application is considered by the development control committee.

The proposed turbines would generate 500kilowatt hours (0.5 megawatts) of electricity to be fed into the company's mains supply.

Bosses say it would reduce the need to import power from the National Grid and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Both turbines would have a total height to the tips of the blades of 48 metres. If approved, they could be installed by the end of this year or early next year.

Jason Leadbitter, group sustainability manager for Hydro Polymers, said: "The choice of this type of turbine means that these structures effectively merge within the existing industrial skyline, minimising their visibility from outside the site."

He said the move would cut energy costs for the firm, helping to secure the future of the site which employees 400 people.

Hydro Polymers said the move was in line with its environmental policy, which has included projects such as the use of recycled water in plant processes and the installation of energy-efficient lighting at the site in the past two years