THE Campaign to Protect Rural England is urging the Government to “make more money available” to stop the Somerset Levels being spoiled by giant pylons.

The CPRE wants the Government to step in to ensure a subsea route is used to connect electricity from Somerset's third nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C with a substation near Avonmouth.

National Grid's draft Hinkley C to Avonmouth route includes a mix of overhead pylons and underground cables.

Campaigners have redoubled their efforts to get the whole route underground or undersea since the Government gave Hinkley C its backing last month.

CPRE chairman, Professor Chris Lewis, said: “There is such strong and widespread opposition to the overland connection route across the levels that National Grid really must start to sit up and take notice.

"Given that the government is having to offer huge subsidies to those investing in the new power station to make it an attractive proposition, we feel that the extra cash needed for undersea cabling rather than ugly pylons which blight people's lives should be an integral part of this package.

“Anything else would mean the unacceptable scarring of this treasured landscape for generations to come.”

National Grid says a subsea route would be too expensive and would have environmental impacts on the Severn Estuary.