Dozens of farmers are at the forefront of a campaign to halt a planned wind farm in Ceredigion, claiming it would significantly reduce the value of their farms.

Renewable Energy Systems wants to construct ten 2MW turbines at Rhos Garn Wilgarn in Ceredigion, a proposal which farmers say would devalue land values by nearly a third.

In one case this would mean a £900,000 fall in market value, according to Helen Thomas, co-ordinator of a farmer action group.

Top sheep breeders Sue and Ronald Jones, Meinigwynion Mawr, said they were very unhappy with RES's environmental impact statement's claim that the land involved was 'slightly degraded' through overgrazing.

The description did not accurately describe the four farms that had agreed to have turbines, or any of the surrounding holdings between Talgarreg and Mydroilyn that would be badly affected by both disruption during the construction phase and the operation of the turbines.

It is thought that the farmers who have agreed to the development on their land will get at least £3,000 rent per turbine per year and up to another £1,375 in royalties.

During an action group visit to land bordering the proposed development members insisted that the plan violated the Welsh Assembly's technical advice note on planning for renewable energy and would damage farming, the environment and tourism.

They claimed that their opposition had won strong political support from Nick Bourne, Conservative leader at the Welsh Assembly.

A statement from RES Ltd said the company thought there was no better location in Ceredigion for a wind farm to generate clean power for 12,000 homes.

It would have limited environmental impact and would generate income for the local community, it was also claimed in the statement.