The windfarm can provide electricity to 65,000 homes.

The 30-turbine development in the Irish Sea off Walney Island, south of Barrow, is capable of providing electricity to 65,000 homes.

Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling was visiting the site and officially opening it.

The project is a partnership between Centrica Energy, parent company of British Gas, and Danish firm Dong.

Simon Clark from the Barrow Offshore Windfarm said there had been challenges during construction because of the weather and the need to put in sub-sea cables.

He said: "I think the important thing here is that we have got a resource on our doorstep and we are able to use it.

"Of course once we have built this windfarm, the cost of the fuel is zero. So we are completely insulated from world commodity prices.

"I think the important thing here is it helps to provide energy locally which means we don't have to procure energy from further afield which may be from higher risk or higher cost places in the years going forward."