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The Government's climate change minister, Ed Miliband, has angered rural campaigners by saying opposition to wind farms is as socially unacceptable as failing to stop at a zebra crossing.

On Romney Marsh a twenty seven turbine wind farm has just come on stream after considerable local opposition.

And at West Langdon, near Dover, protesters have succeeded in stopping the building of three giant turbines.

Mr Miliband said: "The Government needs to be saying 'It is socially unacceptable to be against wind turbines in your area - like not wearing your seat belt or driving past a zebra crossing.'

The minister's views were attacked by the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England.

'We don't think you can take such an uncritical line on any form of development,' said a spokesman. 'With any development, whether it's housing or turbines, there are going to be some locations that are right and some that aren't.'

Around 7,000 new wind turbines have been planned for the UK over the next 12 years to meet Europe's targets on greenhouse gas emissions.