Gloucestershire plan for solar panels and wind turbines

Multimillion-pound plans could see council-owned buildings and land in Gloucestershire fitted with solar panels and wind turbines.

Plans seen by the BBC suggest the county council is looking to invest up to £180m on green energy

It hopes within 10 years the money will be recouped and also save the council £5m each year on energy bills.

The announcement comes two weeks after the authority announced it was looking to save £108m over the next four years.

Council leader Mark Hawthorne said it was about the council's long-term financial situation and its ecological responsibilities.

"We have a four-year challenge to reduce our cost base by £108m but the challenge doesn't stop there and there will always be pressure on public expenditure.

"If there is a way we can save money to make sure we are spending on vital front-line services rather than energy then I think that's the right thing to do," he added.

More detailed proposals are due to be outlined within six months and could see the council setting up its own energy company to administer the scheme.