Whitehall Garden Centres have secured a £400,000 funding package for investment in green energy systems at their Lacock, Wilts, and Whitchurch, Bristol, outlets.

The package was provided by Barclays and will see the centres install three new biomass energy cabins capable of serving the 65,000 sq ft and 40,000 sq ft stores and help reduce running costs by up to 70 per cent.

MD Peter Self (left) said the significant investment was part of the wealth of improvements made in recent years.

"The age of the premises means the heating and water system installed decades ago has become outdated. This is a great opportunity to modernise our energy supply and in doing so ensuring we continue to operate as cleanly and greenly as possible."