THE Holgate School in Hucknall is installing £20,000 solar panels with funding from The Co-operative.

The panels will generate renewable electricity and reduce the school's reliance on fossil fuels.

A monitor screen in the school will display how much energy the panels are generating and how much carbon dioxide they have saved to date.

Schools will also be able to access their energy data online, along with educational materials.

Samantha Mellows, manager of The Co-operative Travel branch in Hucknall, which put the school forward for the project, said: "Installing solar panels at our local school is a great way of getting our climate change message across to the community. As well as reducing the school's carbon footprint and saving money, it will help to inspire the children about environmental issues."

Head teacher Phil Crompton said: "It is fantastic to be given this opportunity to generate our own renewable electricity for the school."

The Co-operative spent £1m installing solar panels at more than 100 schools across the UK during the first phase of the scheme, including Glade Hill Primary School in Nottingham and Bottesford CE Primary School.

The scheme was so successful it is now investing a further £1m in solar panels at 60 schools. And there are also plans for wind turbines, biomass boilers and ground source heat pumps.