CITY council leaders have given experts the go-ahead to examine four possible sites for Oxford's first wind turbines.

A detailed study will now examine whether the turbines, which generate electricity, could be built close to Hinksey Heights Golf Club, near South Hinksey, and at Cutteslowe Park.

These sites join land near the BMW car factory at Cowley and at Sandford Brake, south of Greater Leys, which were singled out as prime locations for the 125m tall generators earlier this year. Council leader John Goddard said: "We should remind people these turbines are very quiet - they are even quieter than the wind itself."

The study is being done by Partnerships for Renewables, part of the Government-backed Carbon Trust which promotes renewable energy. If the results are positive, the trust would finance the multi-million-pound scheme at no cost to the council.

Experts say the Horspath and Sandford Brake sites could accommodate at least two turbines each, while the Chilswell Valley site, near South Hinksey, and Cutteslowe Park could take one each. Each mast would be 80m high, with the rotor blade measuring 90m in diameter, and could generate up to three megawatts of electricity.