RESIDENTS, businesses and churchgoers in Sherwood are leading the way when it comes to using sustainable energy.

Members of Devonshire Road Neighbourhood Watch formed a consortium, together with Sherwood Business Centre, to get solar power systems installed on roofs.

And Sherwood Methodist Church has also become solar powered, and hopes other people will follow its example.

Rev Paul Worsnop said: "As Christians we believe God has given us the job of looking after His creation. However, we have made a pretty lousy job of it, and we want to do our bit to improve that and show we can do a better job for future generations.

"It is a very prominent site. Everybody can see it and we wanted to make a statement that we as a church think this sort of thing is important and we want to encourage people to do the same."

Earlier this year the church received Eco-Congregation accreditation for its efforts to be greener.

These included using energy-saving light bulbs and eco cleaning products, growing potatoes in the church garden, and Mr Worsnop cycling 1,287 miles in a year to get to work and visit parishioners.

As well as saving on their electricity bills, the residents, church and business centre will get money back for any spare power they generate and then feed into the national grid.

Forming a consortium meant that Devonshire Road Neighbourhood Watch and Sherwood Business Centre were able to negotiate a better deal with the supplier, Nottingham-based EvoEnergy.

Four of the houses on Devonshire Road are getting solar panels.

Devonshire Road resident Ivan Jacoby, who is also chairman of Sherwood and Mapperley Park Neighbourhood Watch Association, said: "I had been looking into it and happened to be talking to a couple of my neighbours who were interested. I said let's get a consortium together and buy as a group."

Mr Jacoby then invited firms to pitch for business.