Approval for biggest wind farm

A total of 38 wind turbines are planned on the farm

The UK's biggest offshore wind farm, which is planned near Great Yarmouth, has been approved by Energy Minister Brian Wilson.

The minister gave the go-ahead on Wednesday for the plans to build the £78m farm off the Norfolk coast.

The scheme will be the second largest offshore wind plant in the world and will provide enough electricity to power more than 50,000 homes.

Making the announcement, Mr Wilson said the scheme was "a significant step forward for the wind industry".

The turbines could tower up to 300ft

The project involves building 38 wind turbines, towering to a height of up to 300 feet (100m), on a sandbank three miles out in the North Sea.

It is the first of 18 planned offshore wind energy schemes in the UK to get the green light.

"Offshore wind in the UK can make a major contribution to climate change objectives, to secure electricity supplies and to our economic well being through job creation and exports," said Mr Wilson

"I am very pleased that this potential is beginning to be realised."

The scheme, which is set to be operational by the summer of 2003, will generate 76 megawatts of electricity a year.