Two large masts have been cut down and a wind speed recorder stolen from the Flimby Hall Farm wind farm site.

The masts were cut down last week, according to Maryport police.

Samantha Crosby, West Energy's project manager for the Flimby site, said that the company believed the act was vandalism rather than a protest.

She said: "We have had previous problems on the site but this proposed wind farm has caused few objections and we even had letters of support from residents when we applied for permission to build.

"We found an empty vodka bottle and some energy drink cans on the site after the incident last week. I believe it was vandalism."

Police said they were dealing with the incident as theft and criminal damage at the moment and had no information to indicate that the crime was motivated by anti-wind-farm sentiment.

Flimby PCSO Sam Coiles said police would like to hear from anyone who might have noticed anything suspicious. The police have also told West Energy that they will increase their patrols in the area.

Flimby Wind Energy Limited, the local subsidiary of West Coast Energy, was recently refused permission to increase the height of the three proposed turbines at Hall Farm.

The plans were recommended for approval by Allerdale planning officers, despite objections from the parish councils of Dearham, Broughton Moor and Seaton. But councillors voted against the plans by nine votes to six when they met earlier this month.