A rift has opened in the Labour party over plans to build a line of pylons through the Norfolk countryside after a local leader criticised the shadow chancellor for backing the scheme.

Steve Morphew, who leads the Labour group on Norfolk County Council, has attacked Rachel Reeves for giving the party's support to the project on a recent visit to the county.

She said that if her party formed the next government, it would look to get the 112-mile power line, from Dunston, near Norwich, to the Thames estuary, built.

The line would be supported by a string of 45-50m high pylons and has provoked widespread opposition from the area's Conservative MPs, as well as Tory-run South Norfolk Council and Norfolk County Council.

The County Hall Labour group is also opposed to it and Mr Morphew said this remained the case, despite Ms Reeves' remarks.

"I disagree with Ms Reeves' comments. It remains our view that there are better options than pylons," he said.

"I want to see a united front on this issue, and the longer we argue about it the more the price will go up."

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The National Grid project is to allow power generated from wind farms off the coast to be used elsewhere in the country.

Critics argue the line should be laid underground or on the seabed.

But National Grid say this would add hugely to the cost and would result in higher energy bills.

During Ms Reeves visit to Norfolk last month, she said it was "time to get on with [building the route]."

She added it was "important to take into account the views of local people" and suggested they could receive a reduction in their electricity bills in compensation for hosting the pylons. 

Mr Morphew said: "We haven't asked for fuel discounts. If there is money for that I'd rather see it spent financing an alternative to pylons. 

"This scheme spans generations rather than years. Going offshore or underground might look expensive now but in the longer term could prove much more economical."

National Grid has said the scheme is vital to help the UK achieve its ambition of net zero emissions by 2050, but critics have said the structures will have a devastating impact on the countryside.