HOMES in Mansfield are to benefit from a £635,000 scheme to install energy efficient heating.

The ground and air source heating systems will be fitted to 55 properties in New England Way, Pleasley.

The systems absorb heat from the ground and from the air outside and use it to heat the heating system.

Mansfield District Council has awarded British Gas, in partnership with Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) and Danfoss, a contract to carry out the work.

The homes are currently heated by the New England Way coal-fired district heating scheme.

The new project is expected to save around 17,000 tonnes of CO2 over the next 25 years.

Each home will have its own heating system, which each resident can set to his or her preferred heat level.

Under normal circumstances, the heat pumps will cost no more to run than the current system, and could be cheaper.

The £635,000 project has £300,000 of funding from British Gas, who are working under the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP).

Councillor Mick Colley, portfolio holder for tenancy services and housing needs, said: "If this trial is a success, it could be expanded to cover more of the properties currently served by the 15 district heating schemes in the area."