About 100 people filled the council chamber to hear the specially-convened meeting of the council's planning committee.

The Energy4All application - to build three, 125-metre high turbines on farmer's fields between Lubenham and Gartree - attracted the most number of comments on a planning application in recent history.

After just over an hour listening to 14 speakers - nine against and five for - the council's 11-member panel debated for about 30 minutes before unanimously voting to throw out the plan. A smattering of claps filled the chamber when the decision was confirmed.

The debate started at 6.30pm and finished at 8.05pm.

The main reason put forward by the council for refusal was that the turbines would be visually intrusive to the surrounding countryside and conservation areas.

It is the first time Harborough Council has made a decision - one way or the other - about a wind turbine plan. On previous occasions, the council has deferred decisions which meant them being determined instead by a Government inquiry hearing.

Officers at last night's meeting told councillors they believe the legal justification for throwing out the plan is sound.

But the big unanswered question now is what Energy4All will do - whether they will appeal the decision and take it to a planning inspector or decide to abandon its plan?

For an in-depth report, read tomorrow's Harborough Mail.