A NORTH-EAST council has installed solar panels to heat a swimming pool.

The solar panels will also be used to provide hot water for showers and washing facilities at Teesdale Sports Centre, in Barnard Castle, County Durham.

The installation consists of 60 panels and is expected to reduce the amount of gas consumption by 50,000kwh a year. Energy costs are likely to fall by five per cent and carbon dioxide emissions by about 9.2 tonnes per year.

Undertaken by Sundwel Solar, of Washington, Wearside, the work was part funded by the Government's Clear Skies programme