On Wednesday Durham County Council cabinet members will be asked to designate Bolam as a Conservation Area.

Their plan could see the council forced to go up against energy company nPower Renewables, who want to build six wind turbines just outside Bolam, near West Auckland.

The massive structures would tower over the community, just 400 metres away from the homes of local residents.

The occupants of Bolam - which contains one pub and a smattering of houses - have formed their own campaign group, Bolam and Area Action Group (BAAG) to fight the proposal.

Campaigner Kathy Pagella said the turbines, if they are given the go-ahead by planners, would be visible from as far afield as Durham City to the north, Billingham to the east and North Yorkshire to the south.

She said: "We would hope that if the village is granted Conservation Status then this would put paid to the wind farm plans. We are delighted that the Cabinet is discussing this application.

"We were supposed to be considered for Conservation Status some years ago but this seemed to disappear off the radar.

"But we recently had archeologists out from the county council who confirmed that we were indeed a medieval village."

BAAG members have joined forces with campaigners at Hamsterley, County Durham, who are opposing plans to build a nine wind turbine development at the aptly named Windy Bank nearby.

Mrs Pagella added: "The beauty of County Durham is being scarred by these monstrosities across the sky-line.

"Bolam is a tranquil, unspoilt village which would be ruined."

A spokesman from nPower said the "medium-scale" wind farm "could make an important contribution towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tackling climate change".

A report to councillors by Ian Thompson, corporate director for regeneration and economic development with Durham County Council will recommend they "authorise the commencement of the conservation area designation process for Bolam, in order that its special architectural and historic interest can be fully investigated and documented."