The rejection of plans to install two wind turbines has blown away the future financial stability of a County Durham farmer.

Easington District Council turned down the application from A7 Energy because the turbines would have been too close to the dropping zone at nearby Peterlee Parachute Centre and airfield.

The move has devastated the Musgrave family of Edder Acres farm where the planned wind turbines were to have been sited.

Brothers Raymond, 72, Frank, 71 and 69-year-old Morris Musgrave and their families have farmed the 200 acres of land since 1939 and in recent years have struggled to make ends meet.

Morris's wife Norma,65, said the council's decision had been a "bitter disappointment.''

Lower grain prices and the loss of subsidies, she said had left the family in debt rather than profit.

"We were following the Government's advice to diversify and the turbines would have been financial life savers, now we are left with a very uncertain future,'' she said.

Alex Hensher of A7 Energy said the turbines would have ploughed some £800,000 into the local economy as well as creating energy for 3000 homes.

Opposing the application the owner of Peterlee Parachute Centre, Ian Rosenvinge said the Civil Aviation Authority had ruled that turbines should not be sited within 1.5 miles of a dropping area.

Both turbines would have fallen within that recommended criteria and Mr Rosenvinge said: "I have full sympathy with the plight of the Muisgraves and at a meeting with A7 and the planners I offered to move our dropping zone but unfortunately a compromise could not be reached and I had no alternative but to oppose the application.''

It is understood that A7 is now considering appealing.