Protesters told to 'fill in a form' at Shropshire and Mid Wales pylons event

Campaigners from across the region flocked to Llansantffraid Community Centre, near Oswestry, to ask National Grid to withdraw its planned Mid Wales Connection Project.

National Grid had been holding one of its consultation events into the plans at the centre last night when more than 100 protestors – waving banners and playing musical instruments – turned up to protest.

Chanting "go home National Grid", the protestors entered the centre and were given a speech by leader of Montgomeryshire Against Pylons Jonathan Wilkinson, a farmer from Meifod.

Following Mr Wilkinson's speech, the group was told to fill in a form by National Grid representative Martin Kinsey, to anger from the protestors.

Mr Wilkinson also handed a letter in to Mr Kinsey demanding the project is halted immediately.

He said: "I am so pleased that so many people turned up to have their say. We planned this major protest as a further reminder to National Grid that they are not welcome here and their plans would totally destroy the Mid Wales landscape.

"We had planned to turn up completely unannounced and all at once to make sure our message was felt loud and clear by the Grid bosses and I once again ask them to stop this project immediately.

"I have handed in a letter to National Grid signed by council representatives from all over the area demanding a stop to the action and will now await a response.

"We need to keep our message out there – we cannot allow our countryside to be ruined for future generations.

"We want National Grid to go home and not return here again."

Mr Kinsey told the group: "This is just a statutory consultation event. We have been keen to get people's feedback and I would say please fill in a form."

His comments were met with anger by many in the crowd.

Tracy Barre, from Llansantffraid, said: "Is there anybody who is here who can say anything at all that will make you change your mind?

"You say fill in a form but I don't believe we will be listened to. We have had our say and you don't take it on board. What is the point?"

As part of the plans, National Grid wants to build a 400kV electricity line between a proposed substation at Cefn Coch, near Welshpool, to Lower Frankton, near Oswestry.

Part of the line is to be underground while other parts could be carried overhead on pylons. The pylon network would take over two years to build and work could start by 2019.