Viking Energy wind farm plan backed on Shetland

Controversial plans to build Scotland's biggest community wind farm have been given the backing of Shetland Islands Council.

Viking Energy plans almost 130 turbines, after scaling back earlier proposals.

It will now be up to Scottish ministers to decide whether or not the scheme gets a final go-ahead. The council vote was nine to four in favour.

Hundreds of people signed a petition last year against the plans.

They argued it was too big and would blight the landscape.

Convener of Shetland Islands Council, Sandy Cluness, had urged colleagues to weigh up the economic and environmental issues ahead of Tuesday's meeting.

The project is a joint venture with Scottish and Southern Energy.

The wind farm would also need a seabed cable connecting Shetland with the Scottish mainland to export power.