CAMPAIGNERS have mobilised to oppose a massive wind farm development off the North-East coast.

The move follows a meeting attended by more than 70 people to discuss plans for thirty 400 ft tall wind turbines.

EDF Energy wants to build an offshore wind farm with 400ft turbines off Coatham Sands, Redcar, to generate enough energy a year to power 72,000 homes.

Redcar MP Vera Baird, who chaired the meeting at Redcar's Memorial Hall, said there was "a resounding no" to the proposed development. A campaign committee was established to oppose the farm and raise a petition.

She said: "More than 20 residents spoke, many to huge applause, expressing the views that this is another attempt to dump on Redcar which will fight tooth and nail.

"Some spoke of the lovely open sea view which is our best asset.

"A representative of the Teesmouth Bird Club said that migratory birds pass along a narrow corridor closely offshore and cannot see the movement of sails which rotate at the speed of nearly 100 miles per hour.

"The nearest turbine should be 13km offshore and this proposal puts thirty in the centre of this corridor and will butcher thousands of precious birds.

"An engineer, who raised issues of noise, weak technology, expensive electricity, said the site had been picked because it is cheap to cable the electricity a short way."

But EDF Energy says the position at Redcar was chosen because of the good wind resource and other factors, including shipping lanes and water depth.

The company will apply for consent from the Department of Trade and Industry following the completion of an environmental impact assessment, which looks at the impact on birds, sealife, the environment and the local community, by the end of March.