Bradford Council's Industrial Museum (above) has been given an energy boost with the switch on of new solar panels.

The energy-saving panels have cost £39,000 to install and will produce enough power to pay for themselves in about eight years.

The panels are expected to meet ten per cent of the Eccleshill museum’s electricity needs each year as well as generating an income of £3,050 per year from feed-in tariff payments.

They have been installed as part of the Council's drive to reduce costs and cut the district’s carbon emissions, as the authority looks to provide 20 per cent of its energy requirements from renewable energy sources by 2020.

Coun Andrew Thornton, the Council's executive member for environment, sport and sustainability, said: “We have to take every opportunity available to reduce our operational costs and maximise our energy efficiency.”