The three giant structures at Kirkheaton, north of Hexham, were put up almost 10 years ago by EDF Energy.

But technical issues meant that two of the turbines had to have their blades removed, and only one of the three has been operating since last autumn.

The original planning approval for the site stated that any turbine not working for more than six months should be removed and that part of the site should be restored.

EDF Energy has submitted a planning application to Northumberland County Council to vary planning conditions, but people living close to the site have branded the wind farm "a waste of time and money". They say the turbines should be dismantled as it is the second time they have stopped working in the past few years.

The council is considering the application to allow EDF Energy to retain the turbines for a further 12 months to give the company time to replace and repair the broken blades.

Charles Harrison, who lives close to the site, said: "There have been two big turbine blades just left lying on the ground there for ages.

"I think they are just a complete waste of time and money and I am wholeheartedly against them for producing electricity.

"It's got to be constant. They feed into the National Grid and we will end up having widespread power cuts because of them. Half of the time these things aren't even working. This isn't the first time they have been broken either. About four years ago they had gearbox problems there so they were off for about a year then too.

"They are not a good source of energy because they are not reliable at all. It's a total waste of money keeping them there. There is just no point in fixing them."

EDF Energy is hoping to have the wind farm running at full power by the end of this year.

An inspection by its turbine supplier revealed cracks on the blades on two of the turbines. They were removed as a precaution until replacements could be found. The one unaffected turbine continued to operate as normal.

A spokesman for EDF Energy said that since being commissioned in 2000 until the end of 2007, the wind farm at Kirkheaton generated a total of 36,508 MWh - enough to supply the annual needs of over 860 homes.

He said: "The planning application submitted by EDF Energy Renewables relates to the process of replacing the turbine blades at the site and extending the time allowed for this as the original blade manufacturer is no longer in business and this has delayed the installation process.

"However, EDF Energy has been working with other blade manufacturers and has now sourced and ordered replacement blades.

"It is envisaged that they should be installed towards the end of this year."

A spokesperson for Northumberland County Council said: "We have received an application to vary a condition of planning permission to permit the retention of non-operational turbines for a further 12 months, and this is currently under consideration."