MORE than 500 young people are investigating the environmental credentials of a green business development in Annfield Plain, near Stanley.

Children from Stanley and Consett, as part of National Science Week, are this week visiting the Greenhouse to learn about eco-friendly technologies. They will work with Groundwork West Durham staff on experiments, looking at the effectiveness of a variety of energy sources used in the development.

Val Shaw, science co-ordinator at Stanley and Burnside Primary School, said: "Activities like this are great. Taking lessons to a venue such as The Greenhouse engages the young people and gets them so much more excited about science than, for example, a traditional classroom can."

The Greenhouse, on Greencroft Business Park, was completed this month and is the first of a prototype of business centres developed by the environmental charity Groundwork West Durham.

This £4.2m project will create 54 jobs and fund regeneration projects by reinvesting the rental income. The 32,000sq ft building uses sustainable techniques including a 35-metre-high wind turbine, solar panels and a ground source heat pump.

Groundwork project officer Claire Longstaff said: "We aim to roll out a fun, informative educational programme."