PLANS to build two 364ft high wind turbines between York and Selby have been shot down by the RAF.

Power company E.ON UK announced it was withdrawing its application for the wind farm on the Escrick Park Estate after fierce objections from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Residents threw a champagne party today to celebrate the victory, saying it was a massive relief.

The MoD said the giant turbines would have interfered with defence radar systems at RAF Linton-on-Ouse and RAF Church Fenton.

It said the turbine blades would produce "moving targets" on the radar screens that air traffic controllers would be obliged to avoid for safety reasons.

MoD chiefs said the workload on experienced air crew immediately after take-off and when approaching the runway was extremely high - and given the pilots at Church Fenton were inexperienced trainees, the additional workload could prove too much.

A MoD spokesman said pilots would lose some field of vision on take-off, which could potentially cause an incident.

A spokeswoman for E.ON UK, which owns Powergen, said it was a mutual decision taken between the company and the landowner.

Charles Forbes-Adam, owner of Escrick Park Estate, supported the project, saying it would provide pollution-free energy for 2,300 local homes and generate £5,000 a year for community needs.

He said: "If we believed that two wind turbines could put it at risk in any way we would not have considered supporting the project. I want to make it clear that I only gave my support to the scheme because it meant that local communities might benefit from it. I never stood to gain financially in any way."

Residents formed a pressure group called SCRAP (Selby Community Residents Against Powergen), fearing the turbines would blight the landscape, harm wildlife and devalue their homes.

SCRAP chairman Chris Clay said today: "We are delighted and believe the weight of public opinion also played its part in E.ON UK's decision. We made it clear we were not going to go away - although I don't think this is the last we have heard of wind turbines in the Vale of York."

Fellow protesters Muriel and David Fildes, of Hollicarrs Close, Escrick, live less than a mile from the proposed site. Mrs Fildes said: "We are over the moon and so relieved. We have put a lot of hard work and time into this and it's paid off."

City of York councillor Christian Vassie said today he was very disappointed with the decision to pull out.

He said the council's planning committee voted unanimously in favour of the project.

Updated: 10:23 Tuesday, February 22, 2005