Protesters are celebrating after proposals for six giant wind turbines in a rural beauty spot were rejected

Protesters are celebrating after planning chiefs rejected proposals for six giant wind turbines in a rural beauty spot near Madonna's former country estate.

Green energy firm Ecotricity submitted the plans to build six 395ft (120m) turbines near the village of Silton, near Gillingham, in Dorset.

North Dorset District Council's planning officers recommended the scheme for approval, but a development control committee unanimously rejected the plans to sounds of cheering and applause.

The campaigners, who go under the name Save Our Silton, argued the turbines would tower over the landscape and ruin the views from nearby Cranborne Chase, an area of outstanding natural beauty, where Madonna and Guy Ritchie used to live.

The pop singer reportedly handed over Ashcombe House, near Tollard Royal, to Ritchie as part of their divorce settlement.

Around 500 protesters waved banners and placards reading "No giant wind turbines here" and "SOS" ahead of the meeting in the Olive Bowl conference centre, Gillingham.

Many spoke out against the scheme during the meeting, which was delayed by about 30 minutes after a brief power cut. They had already sent almost 2,000 letters of objection against the scheme.

The wind turbines are only 600 yards away from the nearest four houses, which would suffer unbearable noise disturbance, the group said.

The turbines would damage tourism, especially to some of the nearest houses, which currently offer bed and breakfast and holiday lets.

They also argued that there was not enough wind to generate power for a wind farm and other less intrusive technologies, such as biogas, bio-oil and biomass schemes should be considered in beautiful rural areas.