The turbines would tower over the landscape

National Wind Power (NWP), owned by German utility group RWE, wants to build three, 223-feet-high wind turbines on Bampton Down, near Tiverton - about five miles from Exmoor National Park.

But now residents have formed the Exe Valley Action Group to try to stop the development.

The Devon turbines would be 140 feet higher than those in Cornwall.

CORNWALL WIND FARMS Click below for a map of Cornwall's wind farms Clickable map

NWP say they will generate enough power for 3,000 homes.

The action group says the turbines are inefficient and noisy and will damage tourism.

Action group chairwoman Dr Deborah Reed denied she is against green forms of power.

HAVE YOUR SAY Windfarm proposals This is an agricultural area and this is really an industrial development Dr Deborah Reed Join the debate

She said: "We are very worried about the impact on the landscape of these three giant industrial turbines.

"This is an agricultural area and this is really an industrial development."

The group is backed by the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE).

One Devon local authority, Torridge District Council, has dealt with seven applications for windfarms in the last three years.

Five applications have been refused and two are being considered.

North Devon District Council has rejected two windfarm applications.