RESIDENTS in Tony Blair's backyard were celebrating last night after councillors rejected controversial plans for a windfarm.

"We are over the moon," said David Smith, of Trimdon, County Durham, a member of Trimdon Action Group Against Wind Farms.

"It is a victory for the people of Trimdon. I am sure they will appeal, but we are confident of the outcome."

Energy company EDF wanted to operate four 76-metres high turbines for 25 years on land at Southern Law, between Town Kelloe and Trimdon Grange, a mile from the Prime Minister's Sedgefield constituency home at Trimdon Colliery.

Mr Blair's agent, John Burton, wrote a letter to objectors signalling support for their stance - prompting North-East Conservative Euro-MP Martin Callanan to accuse the Labour premier of hypocrisy, as the Government is encouraging alternative forms of energy in a bid to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Liberal Democrat-controlled Durham City Council's development control committee last night overturned planning officers' recommendation of approval.

No mention of Mr Blair's intervention was made during the meeting, but both Lib-Dem and Labour councillors voiced opposition to the plans.

Councillors were told planning officials considered the scheme to be in accordance with national, regional and local planning policies.

Officials were satisfied there would be no significant visual impact and that people living near the site would not have their lives blighted.

But Mr Smith spoke against the application, saying objectors were concerned about possible subsidence, light flicker, the impact on wildlife, interference with aircraft radar, noise, vibration from low frequencies and effects on the health of residents.

Tom Scorer, of EDF, said the wind farm would produce power for 3,145 homes and would offset 11,700 tonnes of greenhouse gases that would be emitted by a conventional power station.

John Ford, of Trimdon Village, spoke for the scheme, saying that wind power would bring jobs to the region and reduce pollution.

But the council's former Labour leader, Maurice Crathorne, said: "We should safeguard the rights of the villagers. If you live near the site, it will have a massive effect."

Lib-Dem deputy council leader Grenville Holland told the committee he doubted the council had the expertise to conclude that the turbines were not a health threat.

He said the nearest homes were within 2km of planned homes - the distance that research from Holland suggested was the nearest before the risk of a health threat became acceptably low.

"I don't want us to press ahead and put residents in any danger through noise and low frequency vibration. I'm not against wind farms, but they must be sited where they'll not cause impact on residents."