MORE than 700 people joined a winter walk on Saturday to protest against National Grid's plans to install 153ft pylons through North Somerset.

Campaigners from Save Nailsea West and Save Our Valley took part in two walks along each of the two corridors around Nailsea being proposed.

National Grid wants to install 400,000-volt power lines along a 37-mile long stretch from the proposed EDF Energy power station, Hinkley Point C, to a substation in Avonmouth.

The walks came together at The Old Barn, in Wraxall, where walkers were served mince pies and mulled wine, and signed a man-size 'Unhappy New Year' card bound for National Grid.

Campaigners said the sheer weight of people, who came from Nailsea, Backwell, Wraxall and Tickenham, demonstrated the strength of feelings.

More than 600 people walked the full distance of the two walks, either from Parish Brook Road in west Nailsea along Corridor 1 or from Backwell Lake along Corridor 2. A further 100 walkers joined along the way.

Save Nailsea West spokesman Fiona Erleigh said there was an "amazing response".

She said: "The combined walks show how a town can come together, even though National Grid's plans have tried to divide us. We all want the same: a lovely place to live in where the environment and its inhabitants are considered before costs. We love Nailsea Moor for its site of special interest, which is home to otters, bats, birds and wildflowers. The desecration of our countryside including family-friendly Backwell Lake by monstrous pylons has got to be halted before our green and pleasant land is lost forever.

"The walk also highlights that Friday, January 8, is the deadline for people to contact National Grid. Every email and letter counts. I have confidence in the ability of people power."

Save our Valley spokesman Sue Turner said it was time "National Grid invested in technology for the benefit of this and future generations".

She said: "Undersea and underground options must be reconsidered given this massive response by residents."

Members of the public can send their views to National Grid online at www.nationalgrid.com/hinkleyconnection by email, Freepost or by calling 0800 3777347.

Just before Christmas, around 200 protestors marched through Yatton as a way of saying "no" to National Grid.

It was organised by Yatton Against Pylons (YAP), and those taking part fear the pylons would badly affect their lives and the environment.

The options follow two so-called route corridors, with one replacing existing 132,000-volt cables on the western edge of Yatton, which crosses the B3130 and heads towards Kingston Seymour. A second possibility is to take the cables up the Strawberry Line from Puxton into Yatton and south of the North End roundabout before going out onto the Kenn Moor and then towards Nailsea.

YAP founder member Charlotte Deighton said: "We had a really good turnout, with people from Claverham and Clevedon joining villagers from Yatton to walk the route.

"Yatton will be really affected by the route National Grid is proposing, but we think a lot of people aren't aware of it.

"We had an information point set up and gave out 250 information packs. More people also signed our petition, which is being circulated around the village and will go to Downing Street."

YAP wants National Grid to lay cables under the Bristol Channel, but the company said that would cost much more.