Carol Vorderman 'furious' about eyesore pylons being built near her home

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TV's Carol Vorderman has backed a campaign to prevent a row of huge pylons being built across the British countryside near Bristol where she owns a home.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Vorderman, 51, is furious that National Grid has opted to route high-voltage power lines across Cadbury Camp, an exclusive road home to several multi-million pound properties.

Wealthy residents of the area have now launched a 'fighting fund' to campaign against the 'eyesore' pylons, which will be located just 120ft from the nearest house.

The Loose Women presenter's agent John Miles, who lives in the road, is head of the resident's association and is spearheading the campaign.

He wants the 400,000 volt cables underground, which National Grid says is too expensive.

'They want to put these 150ft high pylons everywhere, which will spoil the countryside.

'They should just dig it underground or link it with another cable they are burying not too far away.

'I think that it is selfish of the energy company for using pylons - they were invented in 1926.

'We have made huge advances in how to transport electricity since then but it is poor for National Grid say it is limited by the cost.

'How can you put a value on people's health?'

Cadbury Camp Lane already has a 132,000 volt power line running through it suspended from 88ft pylons.

Residents hoped the new bigger pylons would be routed elsewhere or underground but last month it was announced the route would run directly over the lane, where there are 44 homes.

In 2008, when the plans were first announced, Vorderman said: 'Clearly there are engineering challenges to placing cables under the sea bed but it is striking that, in the 21st century, National Grid has not put forward a proposal for bringing the cables from Hinkley C to Avonmouth using the Bristol Channel.'

Miles estimated the cost of burying the cables underground as an extra £8 on customers' annual bills nationwide, but National Grid said the cost of burying the entire route would be £1.5billion - twice the £75million current proposal.

Spokeswoman Jane Taylor said: 'All the emissions from the electro-magnetic forces from the lines are monitored.

'There are statutory limits on that which are set by the Government and all our equipment does operate within those limits.'

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