WORK has started on fitting the first of 600 homes in Nottingham with solar panels.

E.ON has been chosen by Nottingham City Council to fit the roof panels in Aspley, reducing energy bills by up to £120 a year per home.

The scheme is one of the largest domestic solar-panel installations in the UK.

E.ON will be able to reclaim most of the £3.5m cost from the government, which is committed to investing in renewable energy through energy suppliers.

The council has previously fitted loft, cavity wall and solid wall insulation in 3,000 homes in Aspley.

The two-kilowatt solar panels will produce a total of 4,000 kilowatts of electricity per year for each home.

Gill Bainbridge, secretary of Bells Lane and Aspley Tenants' and Residents' Association, said: "If it does what it says on the box then it will save people money, which is particularly good in these times.

"It's a shame that it can't be done to more houses on the estate.

"It's not just a personal thing. Reduced heating costs mean people will have more money to put back into the local area."

The 600 homes to get the panels have not all identified as it is depends on surveys and tenants giving permission.

A list of potentially suitable properties, where the roofs face the sun, has been drawn up by the council and Nottingham City Homes. Liaison with tenants will take place over the coming weeks.

A resident in Harwill Crescent yesterday became the first to have panels fitted.

Speaking afterwards, the resident, who didn't want to be named, said: "I'm really excited to be the first person to benefit from this scheme. All of my friends and family are intrigued by it and have asked me to tell them how the panels will work.

"Like a lot of people, I tend to use a lot of energy in my home, the solar panels will help us save money on our electricity bills and we also like the fact that we're doing our bit for the environment too. They've been installed so quickly and I'm really looking forward to seeing them in action."

Solar panels collect solar radiation and convert it into electricity.

Councillor Graham Chapman, deputy leader of the council, said: "It will also help reduce fuel poverty and offer real jobs and training opportunities for local people in the green economy."

Nottingham North MP Graham Allen backed the scheme.

"Once you move a family out of fuel poverty you take a giant step in moving them out of poverty," he said.

"The price of electricity will only go up over the years so these will soon prove to be excellent value for money."