HOMES in Darwen have had their TV receptions affected by a new wind farm at Oswaldtwistle Moor, residents claim.

The 12 turbines between Grane Road and Haslingden Road have already brought complaints from residents in Baxenden, Bel- thorn, Oswaldtwistle and Accrington who said digital Freeview channels had been lost since the wind farm was erected.

Now people in areas of Darwen – Sunnyhurst in particular – have complained that they too have been affected by the Energiekontour-owned wind farm.

Sudell councillor Paul Browne, an aerial fitter by trade, said the turbines had caused a problem for people using a ‘reflective signal’.

He said: “A lot of people don’t have a direct signal to the transmitter, so they bounce the signal off another object to get their TV reception.

“We used to use India Mill to bounce off a lot, and it works fine.

“But since that wind farm went up, a lot of people have lost channels.

“A lot of aerials I put up for digital TV on reflective signals have had problems. I have been back to six people so far.

“And I don’t think there is anything they can do. There is no option but to switch to FreeSat or Sky.”

Steven Cooper, of Harwood Street in the Sunnyhurst area of Darwen, said he and neighbours had problems.

He said: “The wind farm is directly in the line of sight between Winter Hill and Pendle Forest.

“Since it went up, TV receptions have been funny around here.

“It is affecting quite a lot of channels.”

Last month, Hyndburn MP Graham Jones said he had contacted Energiekontour after residents in Baxenden complained.

He said: “The residents are telling me their screens pixelate and are unwatchable when the blades are rotating, and the severity of the problem depends on how fast the blades are going, and which direction the turbine is facing.

“I have contacted Energiekontor and the borough council, and both tell me that they are investigating.”

Nathan Wicks, project manager for Energiekontour, said the firm had offered to pay £100 towards the cost of installing FreeSat for anybody whose TV reception had been affected.

Anyone interested in taking up the offer should contact Mr Wicks on 0113 2044862.