The plant could deal with 120,000 tonnes of waste each year

The company behind controversial proposals to build a �25m waste incinerator in Wrexham will unveil details of an alternative scheme later.

HLC's original application has provoked a storm of protest and is due to be the subject of a planning inquiry this summer.

The Portuguese firm says it has bowed to public pressure and modified plans.

The company intends to replace the incinerator element of the plant with a thermal treatment facility.

HLC chairman Horacio Luis Carvalho said the new plans will reduce harmful emissions.

"We have listened to the concerns about incineration and are responding both by seeking to reduce the volumes of residual waste ....and including a state of the art renewable energy plant," he said.

"This will ensure that Wrexham not only meets its recycling targets, but also uses its waste to achieve renewable energy objectives."

Council vote

However, Nia Higginbotham - who has protested about the earlier proposal - said she would wait to see how the application has changed.

"We're obviously very pleased that they're taking public fears seriously but until we see the new plans it's hard to know if this is a good alternative," she said.

Last November Wrexham councillors voted against the controversial plans.

The final decision on whether it goes ahead will now be made by the Welsh Assembly planning committee following a public inquiry in June.

If the incinerator is given the go-ahead, the new plant to be built on Wrexham Industrial Estate could deal with 120,000 tonnes of waste each year.