FIRST MINISTER Alex Salmond was last night urged by a special meeting of councillors to make a last-ditch intervention in the decision to "reject" Europe's biggest wind farm.

Salmond faced a plea over Donald Trump's £1 billion golf resort in Aberdeenshire - and now faces a similar dilemma over the £500 million wind farm plan for the Isle of Lewis.

The move follows revelations that the Scottish government is set to turn down plans for the 181-turbine wind farm on the environmentally-sensitive Lewis Peatlands, home to rare birds of prey.

But an informal meeting of 16 of the 31 Western Isles councillors - most from Lewis - agreed last night to write to the first minister in response to the news that Scottish ministers are "minded to refuse" consent for the scheme. Mr Salmond will also be invited to the islands to hear how the project would benefit the area.

The council's vice-convener, Angus Campbell, is also meeting with energy minister Jim Mather tomorrow to discuss economic development in the islands.

"We have to see if we can make Scottish ministers minded to grant'."

Developers have been given 21 days to respond to why ministers should not reject the scheme. A Scottish government spokesman said: "Ministers are working towards finalising and announcing a decision in the near future."

More than 5000 letters of objection have been sent to Holyrood. However, supporters pointed to economic benefits, claiming more than 400 jobs would be created during construction.

Councillors on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) voted 18-8 in February 2007 to support the project. But the final decision rests with the Scottish government.