Campaigners fighting controversial plans for miles of pylons across the Norfolk and Suffolk countryside have urged people to make their opposition to the scheme loud and clear.

National Grid is carrying out consultation over updated plans for the 114-mile Norwich to Tilbury power line, with a trio of public information events in Norfolk next month.

Energy company bosses say the power line is needed to allow electricity generated by North Sea wind farms to be used elsewhere in the country.

It says the scheme is a vital part of the UK's net zero ambitions and that using pylons rather than burying the cable underground will reduce the cost to energy bill payers.

But it has prompted controversy, with council leaders, MPs and the Pylons East Anglia campaign group unhappy National Grid is looking at an overland option, rather than transferring the power through offshore cables.

Norwich Evening News: Rosie PearsonRosie Pearson (Image: Contributed)

Rosie Pearson, from Pylons East Anglia, said: "It is essential that people take the time to go along and ask National Grid questions, like why they continue to ignore the 29,000 people who have signed the petition and why they continue to ignore alternative options which are so much better than these pylons.

"We will have representatives at each of these events, so people can ask questions, sign the petition and get tips on how to respond to the consultation.

"This is the final consultation, so it is people's last chance to make their feelings known.

"This is not a done deal. There are plenty of hoops National Grid will still need to jump through. We will keep fighting."

While the latest plans take more of the line underground, National Grid bosses said it would be up to 10 times as expensive to put it all beneath the soil.

They say running the line offshore would also be more expensive and the line would have less capacity.

Public information events will be held at Ashwellthorpe and Fundenhall Community Centre in Ashwellthorpe on Thursday, May 9, at Tidenham Community Hall on Friday, May 10 and at Diss Town Football Club on Wednesday, May 15. All last from 1pm to 6pm.

The online consultation, which runs until Tuesday, June 18, is at nationalgrid.com/norwich-to-tilbury

Documents about the plans are also available in Norwich's Millennium Library, Long Stratton Library, Tuckswood Library and Diss Library.

USING ART IN THE FIGHT

Norfolk campaigners against the pylon plan are using art and crafts to highlight what they say would be lost if the scheme goes ahead.

They have organised an art exhibition at Forncett Industrial Steam Museum this weekend to highlight the beauty of the Norfolk countryside.

Gill Starkie, one of the organisers, said: "Alongside this celebration, we plan to make clear to all those attending just how much the construction of the giant pylons will affect everyone within miles of the proposed route, as well as the detrimental effect on the environment.

"This is a different way to highlight our cause, through the arts, but we hope it will help to keep up the motivation and inspire some – hopefully, many - to get involved in saving the beauty that is all around us."

The public can visit the free exhibition, at the museum in Low Road, Forncett St Mary from 10am on Saturday (April 27) and Sunday (April 28).