Transport ministers have been slammed for ignoring the risks that offshore wind farms could pose to ships using British waters.

A hard hitting report published by the Commons transport committee expressed concern that shipping and maritime bodies had not been included in consultations on where the wind farms should be situated.

The MPs warned that a collision at one of the proposed sites was "inevitable".

And they added that the plans had been "woefully mishandled" by the government.

The Department for Transport's failure to get involved in the planning was also criticised, with the process described as "departmental government at its worst".

"Many of the sites chosen for further evaluation may have serious impact on maritime operations," said the report.

"It is imperative that the concerns of the ports, the shipping industry and all those who use the sea are properly addressed in their further evaluation.

"Consents should only be granted to installations which can be shown not to compromise the safety of navigation.

"If the research needed to achieve this has not yet been done then the consent will have to be delayed."

The report also warned that if no safe sites can be found then the government and windfarm industry "will have to think again".

"The government has woefully mishandled the development of offshore wind energy," said the committee.

"We believe that some sort of collision, at some time, is inevitable and that plans must be put in place to deal with it."