Wind farm due to start generating

Huge barges, one of which sunk, have been used in construction

A large wind farm off the coast of north Wales is due to start generating electricity within the next few days.

Energy company npower Renewables hopes to produce the first electricity from its 90-megawatt Rhyl Flats project this week, weather permitting.

It hopes the wind farm, made up of 25 turbines, will be fully operational by the end of the year.

The company has said the project will generate enough electricity to power 61,000 homes annually.

Work on the wind farm began in April 2008, but it was delayed by bad weather and other problems.

In October last year, a barge carrying giant cranes to build the turbines sank en route from America in the Atlantic.

Following that incident, the company said the project would be delayed, with completion due for late 2009.

Kevin McCullogh, chief operating officer of npower Renewables, said: "The first generation is due this week from Rhyl Flats."

A company spokesman said the first of the 25 turbines was expected to export electricity to the UK grid in the next few days.