CAMPAIGNERS opposed to a wind farm on Scout Moor have condemned the vandalism of a £15,000 weather mast erected to test conditions for the development.

The 50 metre construction, situated on moorland between Edenfield and Whitworth, was gathering wind speed data for Scout Moor Wind Farm.

Delicate electrical equipment was damaged after steel guide ropes were cut in the attack, the second of its kind in the past three months.

Members of the Friends of Scout Moor, who say the moor is unsuitable for the siting of 26 giant turbines, have declared their opposition to the action.

But they added that feelings are running high on the development, which is awaiting a planning decision from the Department of Trade and Industry.

Member Ian Price said: "Though our group is strongly against the building of this power station on Scout Moor, we are equally against the mindless damage caused to the mast on the moor in the last few weeks.

"We feel, however that this could be indicative of the level of feelings this project has aroused in the area against this industrialisation."

Support to the wind farm has been lent by Bury Environment Forum's resource issues group, who have called upon Bury Council to give it their backing.

The group, which debates green issues across the borough, say that the long term benefits of the turbines outweigh concerns that they would ruin the appearance of the moor.

Chairman David Archer said: "The views put forward were almost entirely in favour of the wind farm.

"Members of the group understand the issues very well and feel that the urgent need to change our patterns of energy use outweigh concerns about the visual impact of the scheme.

"The forum also called for a full and independent survey of public attitudes to the plan."