A legal action was launched yesterday to halt a controversial wind farm rising where eagles currently soar.

Environmental campaigners are seeking to have a decision to grant planning permission for the development on the Skye set aside by a judge.

They believe the scheme at Edinbane, near Dunvegan, could have an impact on both golden eagles and the island's population of reintroduced white-tailed sea eagles.

At the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Lord Hodge was told that the Skye Windfarm Action Group (Swag) was arguing for Highland Council's decision in May to give the go-ahead for the wind farm to be reduced in a judicial review.

Power firm Amec originally proposed a development of 28 turbines up to 100 metres high at the site to feed electricity to the national network.

A scaled-down version with 18 turbines on site eventually won the local authority's approval five years later but the campaign group maintains that in reaching its decision, the council acted unlawfully.

Lord Hodge is expected to give a decision in the case at a later date.