A group of residents have spoken out in support of a wind farm on the Herefordshire border, claiming it will bring much-needed jobs and renewable energy to the region.

Forty people have signed a petition in favour of the four-turbine wind farm proposed for Reeves Hill near Presteigne.

The controversial scheme from Bolsterstone Innovative Energy secured planning permission from Herefordshire Council in September last year.

But construction cannot start unless Powys County Council grants permission for an access road.

With Powys’ public consultation into the access road plan due to end on June 22, a number of residents have handed over their petition and a letter of support to the councillors who will eventually decide whether the wind farm can be built.

In their letter to Powys councillors, residents who support the scheme said: “We face difficult economic times and we feel that it is important to revise our preconceptions about the proposed wind farm at Stonewall Hill”.