TWELVE parish councils have come together to speak out against plans to build pylons in Cumbria.

The Parish Council Coordination Group is concerned that the 50-metre high pylons would affect both the landscape and the economy.

"It's a very unusual step for 12 parish councils to come together under one group," said David Savage, chairman of Millom Without Parish Council and co-ordinator of the group. "We hope that the 12 voices would make one very much stronger voice."

Since plans were announced, campaigners have expressed concerns, which would see more than 20 miles of pylons built to carry electricity from a proposed new nuclear power station at Moorside, near Sellafield, to Heysham.

Cllr Savage said that although the councils welcomed the Moorside development, they believed what was now needed were '21st century connections'.

"People will have to live with something that will scar the landscape," he said. "It's a visual impact and it's an economic impact."

In a letter to National Grid, the councils urged the group to spend its time on 'carefully considering the views and opinions' of those that it has consulted with.

The councils involved are: Blawith and Subberthwaite; Bootle; Drigg and Carleton; Gosforth and Ponsonby; Kirkby - Ireleth; Muncaster; Millom Town; Millom Without; Seascale; Ulpha; Waberthwaite and Whicham.

A spokesperson for National Grid has said that it will continue to talk to key organisations about how and where the new connection will be built.

"We have decided to push back the next stage of consultation on our project as it is crucial that these discussions continue in order for us to develop a project which finds the right balance between all the obligations we must consider," they said. "We also need to be confident that the project we eventually consult on will gain consent."

The councils would prefer that the National Grid look at the use of tunnels, including across the Duddon Estuary. The group would now like to meet with the National Grid and discuss its consultation plans.

National Grid has said that it is looking closely at ways of minimising the impact of its proposals and this will include considering placing sections of the connection underground.