As many as 70 pylons each the height of 11 double decker buses will cut through the east Kent countryside on one of two routes, it can be revealed.

The National Grid has unveiled two options for the 50m-high structures, which will connect the sub-station in Broad Oak Road, Canterbury, with another in Richborough, near Sandwich.

The first – called the North Corridor and preferred by the company – would run through Upstreet, Chislet, Hersden, Broad Oak and Sturry.

The second – South Corridor – will cut through land in Ash, Elmstone, Wickhambreaux, Wingham and Fordwich.

The National Grid says the £170m Nemo Link, as it will be known, will tap into much-needed electricity from the continent via Zeebrugge in Belgium.

The company prefers the North Corridor because there is already a line of smaller pylons, which would be removed and replaced with fewer, but taller, structures.

The proposal has already alarmed villagers on the possible routes and prompted Canterbury MP Julian Brazier to write to the company and the energy minister.

But National Grid says the pylons are needed because they have to carry double the voltage of the existing line.

It is now holding a public consultation until August 9 and a series of exhibitions in village and community halls began yesterday at Chislet and continues though to July 13.

The company's project manager Steve Self says the whole consultation will last two years.

He said: "We've written to more than 10,000 addresses and sent them all a copy of our project leaflet, which contains detailed information.

"We are encouraging people to let us know what they think about our plans and the exhibitions will be a good opportunity for them to discuss them with my team face-to-face."

Some of the north route will site the proposed pylons very close to land in Hersden, Broad Oak and Sturry earmarked in the new draft Local Plan for hundreds of homes.

Mr Self admitted it would make developers "twitchy".

He said: "We are very aware of the Local Plan and are in discussions with the city council."

When the preferred corridor is approved by the company, it will again be put out to consultation and considered by a government planning inspector, who will then pass a recommendation to the Secretary of State.

The company hopes to start construction in 2017.