RESIDENTS in east Cleveland are having domestic solar hot water units installed in the roof of their homes, which will save them an estimated £140 a year.

Ten homes in Saltburn, Guisborough, Skelton, Loftus and Brotton have been chosen because they are not connected to the gas network and are traditionally hard to heat.

The units will all be installed by the end of this month and save the householders about £140 per year on their hot water heating costs.

They are being fitted thanks to a partnership scheme between Warm Zone and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

Dorothy Buckingham, 66, from Guisborough, is having a unit installed this week.

"I'm hoping it will save me a lot of money and I've been told I'll get a lot more hot water," she said.

"I'll probably have to spend the money on paying other bills because we've had a lot of increases recently."

The pensioner, who works part-time at the Fox and Hounds, near Guisborough, said: "The savings will make a big difference to me."

Councillor Peter Spencer, chairman of the council's planning committee, said: "This is the start of an ambitious project and I look forward to a time when most households will have solar units."