A Norfolk action group has highlighted the lack of industry regulation on wind turbines by producing its own report.

Campaign group 4Villages said there is a growing danger to the public from wind turbine accidents, with an increasing number of incidents worldwide involving giant turbines catching fire, losing propeller parts or shedding lumps of ice.

In an incident earlier this month in Whittlesey, Peterborough, residents and shoppers narrowly avoided death and injury when, for about four hours, huge lumps of ice crashed onto homes, gardens and a shopping car park.

MP for Cambridgeshire North East MP Malcolm Moss said the turbine should remain closed until a new risk assessment could be made, as the problem could also have national implications.

The action group - which is fighting controversial plans to develop a wind farm at Pulham, near Diss - claims the wind industry consistently plays down health and safety and, in the rush to meet government renewable energy targets, is largely unregulated.

The 4Villages report, Danger in the Wind, claims that there is confusion between central government, local councils and the wind industry as to who is accountable for safety.

And one of the authors, Sheila Moss, believes that action must be taken before it is too late.

"There are huge financial incentives for energy companies and there's government pressure to put up turbines as fast as possible. Without regulation, and a buffer zone between these huge moving structures and where people live, work and walk, we believe that serious accidents are inevitable," she said.

"Our report is asking a simple question. Who is accountable for the safety of the public in these situations? No one in government or the industry seems to know the answer."

Copies of the report have been sent to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, South Norfolk Council and the British Wind Energy Association.