IT is the sight campaigners have been dreading - the first pylon to be erected as part of a power line across the Vale of York.

The construction, at Tholthorpe Airfield, stands 182ft tall - almost as high as York Minster.

It is the first link in the controversial 50-mile power line between Picton and Shipton-by-Beningbrough, near York.

Pressure group REVOLT, which has waged a bitter campaign against the development for ten years, claims the pylons could present a health risk and are an "unforgivable" waste of taxpayers' money.

Campaign chairman Professor Mike O'Carroll vowed the group would fight on, acting as both "watchdogs and whistle-blowers".

He told the Evening Press: "At our recent AGM we sat down and agreed upon our future role. We plan to keep people fully informed.

National Grid spokesman Stewart Grant said: "We recognise that this remains a sensitive issue with some members of the community. We intend to minimise the impact of construction and work with communities as closely as possible."

Updated: 11:38 Friday, December 28, 2001