The power company refused permission to build a wind farm in Tony Blair's backyard says it is disappointed.

But EDF Energy, one of the country's leading electricity companies, has not said yet whether it will appeal against the decision by Liberal Democrat-controlled Durham City Council's development control committee.

The company wants to place four turbines on land at Southern Law Farm, a mile from the Prime Minister's Sedgefield constituency home in Trimdon Colliery, County Durham.

Some residents objected and they received the Premier's support through a letter written by his agent John Burton.

The move prompted an accusation of "hypocrisy'' by North-East Conservative Euro-MP Martin Callanan because the Government wants to increase the proportion of "green'' energy produced in this country in a bid to reduce Greenhouse Gases and has changed planning rules to encourage the development of on-shore wind farms.

Both Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors spoke out against the plans _ no mention was made in the meeting of Mr Burton's letter - even though planning officers recommended approval, saying the scheme fitted national, regional and local policies.

A company spokesman said yesterday: "EDF Energy is disappointed by the decision of Durham City Council's planning committee, particularly as it goes against the strong professional recommendations in support of the project by the council's chief planning officer.

"We await the official minutes from the planning committee, which will set out the reasons behind their decision. Until such time as we have had a chance to review them in detail it would be inappropriate to comment further.''

Trimdon Action Group Against Winds Farms raised fears of health risks, noise, flicker, low frequency vibration and effects on aircraft radar if the wind farm went ahead _although some residents signed a petition supporting the scheme.

The group, which was delighted with the outcome, was backed by councillors on both sides who questioned claims that the development would have little impact on views and people living in the area.

The company has said the wind farm, which it wants for 25 years, would produce electricity for 3,145 homes and offset 11,700 tonnes of greenhouse gases that would be emitted by a conventional power station.