Barges bring the power ashore.

RHYL'S latest tourist attraction has brought a non-stop supply of power much closer.

For the past week a massive barge has been drawing the crowds to the Foryd harbour as it lays the cables from the offshore windfarm.

The cables run from 30 turbines on Hoyle Bank, six miles off Prestatyn, under the promenade by Sydenham Avenue, and inland to the nearby electricity station.

The green energy has been labelled Juice by National Windpower, whoa re behind the project and have urged residents to sign up to obtain their supply locally.

It had been hoped that the new source would be on-line in September but minor delays mean it will now be next month.

The giant barge, which is based in Rotterdam, uses a special tractor to lay the cables in two- metre deep trenches. Fears that the excavation work would cause long- term damage to the beach have proved unfounded.

The same method is expected to be used to bring ashore the electricity supply from the similar 30-turbine wind farm to be developed on Rhyl Flats,off Abergele.

The original plan was to bring the cables ashore at Kinmel Bay but with National Windpower now having taken over the scheme,it is to link up to the Foryd harbour line.