Click here for a cross-section diagram of the E-66.

The turbine is 67 metres tall and thought to be the tallest in Europe. It dominates the flat landscape around Swaffham, in Norfolk.

The company Next Generation built the 1.5 Megawatt Enercon E-66 turbine at a cost of �1.25m. It will supply energy to the National Grid, providing power to some 3,000 people - about half the local population.

Next Generation want to develop more turbines in the UK

Project developers hope it will help build public support for wind energy, which has run into opposition when large numbers of smaller turbines are built on hills.

In March, the UK Government said research and development spending on non-polluting energy sources would rise to �43m over the next three years.

Fears that fossil fuels are polluting the atmosphere have led to a UK commitment to generate 10% of its electricity by renewable means within a decade.

Local anger

The structure is 50% more powerful than the next largest turbine in the UK.

But the towering structure, sited at the Swaffham EcoTech Centre, has met with anger from local residents. Sheila Lister, president of the Swaffham Chamber of Trade, condemned the structure as "a monstrosity which blights the town".

Particular concerns have been raised over the effect the turbine has on views of Swaffham's historic 18th Century monument, the Buttercross, which stands in its market square.

"We've got a beautiful historic town which now has this monstrosity sticking above the skyline," added Mrs Lister.

All the turbine's parts, including three 31m-long blades, were prefabricated in Germany, where similar generators have already been commissioned.

Visitors will also be able to climb 300 steps to reach a unique public viewing platform just below the hub, about 60m above the ground.