Britain's biggest coal-mining firm has signed a deal with an alternative energy company that may lead to the building of new wind farms at sites across the country.

UK Coal has agreed a two-year deal giving Peel Energy exclusive access to wind farm opportunities on the mining company's land.

Peel Energy, part of the same firm which owns Manchester's Trafford Centre and Liverpool's John Lennon Airport, will lead the development of windfarms through to the planning-permission stage.

Wind farms will then be built and run through joint ventures between Peel Energy and UK Coal.

Jon Lloyd, chief executive of UK Coal, said: "We believe there is significant opportunity to develop wind farms on parts of our land portfolio.

"By allying with Peel Energy, we are joining forces with one of the UK's most active and knowledgeable wind power companies.

"This will accelerate our alternative power business whilst maintaining total flexibility on the level of investment we make in it and without distracting us from our core mining and property development operations."

Peel Energy director Steven Underwood said the deal would allow Peel Energy to "significantly" expand its onshore pipeline and gain access to "some of the UK's best potential windfarm locations".

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