A chief reporter has set off on a protest march to the Welsh Assembly offices in Cardiff in the latest move in a campaign against electricity pylons.

The Powys County Times launched its ‘Power Mad’ campaign in a bid to halt plans for a 20-acre electricity substation in rural Montgomeryshire.

Chief reporter Richard Jones joined a group of protesters last week as they set off from Welshpool on the 100-mile walk to the Welsh capital.

They are due to arrive in Cardiff tomorrow morning when Richard will be joined at the Assembly offices by County Times editor Nick Knight.

Richard Jones, far right with a copy of the County Times campaign poster, joins fellow protesters at the start of the walk

The newspaper says the substation plan will blight the landscape with 47 metre high steel pylons and would be the size of 13 football pitches.

As well as walking every mile with the protesters, Richard will be producing a special report on the march in next week’s newspaper.

He said:  “This is a huge issue for Mid Wales and not just a story for a newspaper.

“Many people feel helpless to stop these plans, but what better way to express our feeling than to confront those entrusted with making these decisions.”

Added Nick:  “I have never known a campaign that has stirred up so many people in this normally quiet part of Wales.

“I will be handing over a book of protest to the Assembly, filled with hundreds of comments from our readers who are completely opposed to these inappropriate plans.”

In a Westminster debate on windfarms Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies paid tribute to the County Times and its campaign.

“It has understood what the people of its catchment area feel and has organised petitions. It realises that virtually everyone in the county opposes what is proposed,” he said.