SCOTTISH Borders Council has opposed plans for a huge 24 turbine windfarm near the Devil's Beef Tub.

Developer Wind Energy had originally planned to build 36 turbines on the Earslhaugh site near Tweedsmuir in 2008, but this was overwhelmingly rejected by Scottish Borders Council.

The company then came back with a revised version of 24 turbines which they said would greatly reduce the visual and landscape impact on the surrounding area.

However, planning councillors have followed the advice of officials and decided to lodge an objection to the scheme on land nestled in one of the most scenic areas of southern Scotland.

The site close to the well-known landmark is within a designated area of great landscape value and is also covered by the River Tweed special area of conservation.

In their report to planning committee members ahead of Monday's meeting at Council headquarters, council planners sided with local campaigners and MP David Mundell and recommended refusal on the grounds that the turbines and associated equipment would have an unacceptable adverse impact on the landscape character of the surrounding area.

However SBC are not the ultimate decision-maker because the output of the wind farm will be more than 50MW. This decision will instead be made by the Energy and Climate Change Directorate of the Scottish Government.