A PUB landlord took the mickey out of his MP neighbour's opposition to wind farms by erecting a mini-turbine in his back yard.

Nigel Evans, Conservative MP for the Ribble Valley, returned to his cottage in Pendleton to find the windmill glued to a long bamboo pole and stuck in a flower pot on his patio. Attached to the stick was the sign "Pendleton Wind Farm ( Not in My Back Yard)."

Mr Evans saw the funny side and immediately suspected the landlord and landlady of the Swan with Two Necks pub, which adjoins his two-bedroom home. He now plans to buy Steve and Christine Dilworth and their co-conspirators in the snug bar a drink or two in appreciation.

Mr Evans did not have time to remove his personal wind turbine before heading off to the Tory Party Conference in Blackpool.

He said: "I am well known in Pendleton village for my opposition to wind farms.

"We have beautiful countryside in the Ribble Valley and across East Lancashire.

"I don't want to see it disfigured by huge collections of industrial furniture.

"I don't believe it does generate environmental electricity and it is certainly not cheap.

"If you invested the money spent on wind farms on energy insulation, it would save far more electricity."

Steve said: "Nigel has been against wind-farms for years.

"I just thought while he was in Blackpool I would put one in his backyard."

Steve has been landlord there for 17 years and has known Nigel for more than a decade.

He was looking after the MP's house while he was at the Tory Conference.