Plans by energy giant Npower Renewables for the 125m-high wind turbines at Lindhurst Farm, off Blidworth Lane, were given the go ahead by Newark & Sherwood District Council last September.

But local residents believe the huge turbines will be too close to homes and have looked into getting a judicial review in the High Court in the hope of overturning the planning permission.

Campaigner Stuart Morris, from the Lindhurst Windfarm Action Group, told Chad the group had been in touch with solicitors — but had been unable afford the high costs of getting the case reviewed.

And Mansfield MP Alan Meale, who has backed the residents in opposing the plans, told Chad he did not understand why the proposed windfarm between Eakring and Bilsthorpe had been turned down, but the Rainworth one approved.

He said: "I think they have a right to seek a judicial review. The residents have had little other recourse to examine this. They have come to me for advice and help and I have given it.

"I am not against windfarms in general, but where this is going is totally inappropriate. It beggars belief that they have got huge areas at sea and non-residential areas and they plonk this on top of hundreds of houses."

But Cath Stevenson, development manager at Npower Renewables, told Chad this week the company could start building work next spring.

She said: "Site investigations are due to start over the coming weeks and, subject to discharging the planning conditions and securing wind turbines for the site, we expect to begin the construction process in spring 2009 at the earliest, though this may change depending on delivery timescales for the wind turbines.

"We will be issuing newsletters to residents when we begin in earnest to keep everyone up to date."