The power lines near Perryfoot before their removal

Now you see them, now you don’t: there will be no crossed wires for walkers in a Peak District beauty spot thanks to a scheme to bury unsightly electricity lines.

The poles and their accompanying wires have been put underground between Perryfoot, Eldon Hill and Peak Forest, to the East of Chapel-en-le-Frith. The view north has been improved towards some of the best scenery in the area.

The Friends of the Peak District – a charity campaigning to protect the beauty of the area – put the location forward for work as part of a near-£2m allocation from power regulator Ofgem to the Peak District national park. 2½km of cable has been buried.

Andy Tickle, head of planning for the Friends, said: “We are delighted with the success of this scheme.

“There is now a clear view of Rushup Edge and Mam Tor which can be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. We hope this will be the first of many schemes across all parts of the Peak District.”

The scene, minus the poles and wires

Jane Chapman, the national park authority’s head of environment, heritage and recreation strategy, said: “These landscapes are among the most impressive in the Peak District and we’re glad to be working with the electricity companies and Friends of the Peak District to help them look as natural as possible.”

The scheme involved the authority, Friends of the Peak District, United Utilities Electricity Services and Electricity North West.

The Ofgem cash offers run until 2010, but proponents are lobbying for an extension to 2015.