CHILLY Weardale is not the ideal place to rely on solar power as an alternative to conventional forms of energy.

But one group of summer school students found the sun's rays were strong enough to run a mini air conditioning system in a model house and drive a model buggy.

Science teacher Simon Travers said: "We first tried to heat a house, but found that we weren't getting enough power from the sun.

"The North of England's climate isn't really warm enough for solar energy to be effective.

"The children themselves came up with an answer that seemed to be ideal.

"They realised that people usually need air conditioning only when the sun is out and therefore solar power would be a perfect energy source.