On a recent visit to Drax, the biggest coal-fired power station in the UK, I was struck by the cluster of 12 wind turbines that have sprung up just beside the water-vapour belching cooling towers.

Picture by Press Association

The wind turbines do not belong to Drax – the company prefers to lower its emissions using biomass – but make a striking picture, situated so close to the coal plant.

The local people hate them.

You might have thought that people who have lived for decades with an enormous coal-burning power plant in their backyard would think nothing of a few little turning blades. No so. The wind developers faced a barrage of local opposition to their plans.

“You wouldn’t want those on your doorstep,” one local man said. “They’re an eyesore.”