Eastleigh Council is setting sail with a pioneering wind turbine initiative which will provide cost-cutting green power for one of its major country park visitor attractions.

Last night councillors gave the go-ahead to build a 12.45-m high turbine at West End's Itchen Valley Country Park.

And it could be the first in series of wind turbines springing up on the borough skyline.

For Eastleigh is determined to be a Hampshire trailblazer in tapping into this source of natural energy.

Executive councillor for the environment Councillor Louise Bloom said: "If it goes well we will look at other sites in the borough."

Eastleigh's first wind turbine will only be a fraction of the size of giant structures at wind farms which have whipped up a storm of controversy in other parts of the country.

Schemes in places across the country, including the Lake District and Cornwall, have been met with a whirlwind of controversy.

Prince Charles has described wind farms as a "horrendous blot of the landscape".

But the Hedge End, West End and Botley Local Area Committee has given its full backing for the wind power plan for the country park's High Barn Visitor Centre. It could be up and running by October.

Council chiefs say it will cut consumption of fossil fuels, save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The £22,000 project is expected to attract a £7,000 grant from Whitehall's Clear Skies scheme.

And the initiative is also being developed as an educational project for the local community and schools.

Councillor Bloom said the wind turbine would also pump some energy into the national grid.

Wind power, she said, was something the government was keen to put money into and a very environmentally friendly way of generating power.

Speaking to the committee she said: "I think wind turbines are beautiful and I have seen them all over the world.

"It is something that will be a first for the area. It will be a talking point as well as a very sustainable form of energy. "

She pointed out that the borough already had the Bursledon Windmill where wind power was being used to produce bread.