THE benefits of a wind farm in the area would be "peanuts" compared to the "devastating" effect it would have on Ramsbottom and surrounding towns and villages.

This was the stark message delivered by protest group the Friends of Scout and Noel Moor Quarry, who were in Ramsbottom on WEdnesday to rally support.

They are campaigning against plans to site the largest wind farm in Britain on moors north of Bury, straddling Rochdale.

Miss Emma Metcalfe, who chaired the meeting, said: "We are here to raise awareness of the plans in Ramsbottom. We are not an anti-wind farm group, but feel this proposal will damage the moorland."

More than 50 residents packed a function room in the Grant Arms to hear plans to build 26 giant turbines, each reaching a height of 327ft on Scout Moor. The development, proposed by property firm Peel Holdings and electricity generators United Utilities, is aimed at meeting Government carbon dioxide emission targets.

But campaigners say the wind farm will do little to reduce total CO2 emission.

Civil engineer Mr Cliff Taylor, said: "This will have a big effect on the area, but the results of the farm would be peanuts."

The friends group said the windmills would wreck views, damage property prices and affect wildlife on the moors. They said the development would be visible across Ramsbottom.

Alan Johnson, countryside officer for the Ramblers Association of North East Lancashire, said: "The perception of the area will change from countryside land to industrial. It will have a great impact on those who use the moors."

Friends of Scout and Noel Moor are urging opponents to write to their MPs and Bury Council.

A spokesman for the development told the Bury Times the wind farm on its own would not make a huge difference to reducing CO2 emission, but together with projects across the UK "would have a big effect".

He added: "Doing nothing is not an option. We understand the concerns but have taken steps to minimise the visual impact of the wind farm. At the same time there are as many people who find wind farms visually pleasing as those who don't. The development will affect only two per cent of the moors."