COMPLAINTS to local authorities about wind farm proposals have risen 15-fold in the last five years, according to figures from the Scottish Conservatives.

Since 2008, when there were 943 planning objections, there have been more than 34,000 across Scotland. Last year, the number of objections rose almost 20% to 14,300.

More than 10,000 people have also contacted the Scottish Government directly about wind farm plans, and some councils failed to provide data, suggesting the true number of complaints may be close to 50,000.