PLANS to tear down ugly overhead power cables on the North York Moors and other beauty spots in the region have been welcomed by National Park chiefs.

CE Electric has announced it is to invest £1.6 million over the coming five years to bury power cables at Coxwold, Swainby and Levisham.

Other schemes in the design stages include the villages of Egton, Lastingham, Appleton-le-Moors, Aislaby and Thornton-le-Dale.

Caroline Skelly, chief of planning at the North York Moors National Park, said the changes would make a “huge difference”.

She said: “Big strides have already been made and we are hoping this good work continues. We hope to do everything we can to make sure these changes take place.”

The project comes after extensive consultation with residents.

Paul Nicholson, CE Electric’s UK project manager for the National Parks underground programme, said: “It can make a significant difference to the quality of the landscape in these areas.

“These submissions have been put forward to us by the National Park authorities and residents themselves who have the knowledge of the area and landscape. The ones that are being selected are where the biggest impact will be made to improve the landscape.

“It is quite a complex process installing the underground cables depending on the location of the villages themselves.

“Some of these schemes have involved quite a bit of engineering work but we are working with local authorities and residents to keep disruption to a minimum.”

Funding for the proposed work in North Yorkshire is part of a £7.9 million national voluntary scheme run by Ofgem to put overhead power lines underground.