People living in some of Britain’s most picturesque villages have been divided by plans for a one of the biggest solar parks in the country.

Developers want to build solar panels on 2,000 acres of farmland near Malmesbury in the Cotswolds, producing enough energy for 115,000 homes.

Rosie Clark is one of hundreds of local campaigners who believes it will “decimate the local area”.

But supporters of the scheme, including the former mayor of Malmesbury Lesley Bennett, accused opponents of being “well-connected people” whose leaflets are “full of mistakes”.

The government wants to quadruple the amount of solar power generated in the UK. But wherever developers propose new solar farms, opposition springs up.

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Meanwhile, Lesley Bennett is one of a few people who will speak up for the solar scheme.

“It’s nimbyism, it’s perfect nimbyism,” she said.

“We need clean energy. We need to be energy independent.”

The campaign to Stop Lime Down is well organised. Hundreds of people have been signed up, leaflets printed, there are signs everywhere in these north Wiltshire villages.

But Mrs Bennett thinks there are many silent solar supporters, who dare not speak up.

“It’s a few well-connected rich people who’ve created a brilliant campaign,” she says.

“But it’s an illusion. This leaflet is full of mistakes.”