AT first glance it looks like one of our wind turbines is missing.

The two turbines on top of the Civic Centre 3 building in Huddersfield town centre have become a familiar sight since they were put up four years ago.

We revealed in the middle of March that one of the two 6kw turbines had stopped working and Kirklees Council confirmed it was broken.

The turbine was hardly moving, no matter how strong a breeze.

Now it appears to have vanished completely – but it is, in fact, still there.

A Kirklees spokeswoman said: “The wind turbine on top of Civic Centre 3 has been folded into its maintenance position.

“After investigation, it has been found that the electrical generator is faulty. Kirklees Council is currently investigating repair costs.”

The Examiner revealed last summer that the pair of 27ft-tall turbines on top of the Civic Centre cost far more to run than the amount of money they save the council.

The two turbines only generated enough energy to cover a third of their upkeep in 2008.

The two turbines brought £2,078 into Kirklees Council coffers, but cost £6,431 to maintain and repair.

They were put up in July 2006.

They cost £101,000 to buy and install, with Kirklees paying £70,000 and a Government grant covering the rest of the cost.

The aims, when they were set up, included raising awareness of climate change and renewable energy technology in Kirklees. They also hoped to supply the building with power from renewable energy sources, which would contribute to reaching a target of meeting 20% of the Kirklees district’s energy demand from renewable sources by 2020.