Villagers were celebrating victoriously yesterday after winning their 'David versus Goliath' battle against plans for two giant wind turbines.

Bernard Matthews' planning application for the 125m-high structures to be built on the former USAF airfield at Weston Longville was turned down by Broadland District Council's planning committee yesterday.

The wind turbines would have been just 500 metres from homes in the village where Parson James Woodforde famously wrote his diary in the 18th century.

Councillors voted against the proposals on the grounds that the wind turbines would have a detrimental impact on village and the surrounding area. There were also concerns about the noise created.

The decision was welcomed by people who live in the village who had set up a campaign group to oppose the controversial plans.

During the meeting, committee member Roger Foulger said: 'The height of these turbines is 100ft higher than Norwich Cathedral and bringing that into a village environment is totally unacceptable.'

Fellow member Tony Adams added: 'Can you really say they will not have an impact on the village? That area is stone flat and you will be able to see them from miles around.

'I think they'll be a monstrosity in my own personal view and this planning application should be refused.'

Bernard Matthews had planned to build the wind turbines on the site, which is currently home to a number of turkey sheds, as part of a �20m investment in green energy.

The turbines would have created an annual average of 7,750 megawatts of electricity which Bernard Matthews claimed would meet the needs of 1,610 homes.

The plans had been recommended for approval by Broadland's planning officers but councillors voted against the plans seven to six.

Peter Ross, chairman of Anti Turbine Action Group, the campaign group set up in the village, said: 'I'm absolutely delighted, it was the right decision. It shows all the right values for preserving our landscape and quality of life, all the things we hold dear to us in this district.'

A Bernard Matthews spokesman said: 'Bernard Matthews is extremely disappointed. The business will be considering its position before deciding its next course of action.'