Family-run Staunton Garden Centre near Tewkesbury has had 108 solar panels installed tree of charge under a solar power purchase scheme.

Owners Brian and Lynn Lewis will purchase zero carbon electricity at a heavily discounted rate from specialists Renewable Energy Investments (REI), who installed the panels. The centre, which is known for its giant geraniums, will then take ownership of the system in 20 years.

The roof-mounted solar 27-kilowatt peak (kWp) system will generate 24,5000 kWh of clean green energy per annum - nearly half of the centre's annual usage. It will cut an estimated £63,000 from the business's electricity bills over the next 20 years - as well as save about 9.8 tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere every year.

The centre would have had to pay £33,000 to fund the capital costs of the installing the system without REI's innovative funding model.

Brian Lewis, who started the two-acre garden centre near Gloucester 35 years ago, said: "Although well established as a business, we have always moved with the times. We started from scratch and over the years we've made many changes.

"It's a win-win situation as our investment was absolutely nothing and there was no risk as far as I am concerned."

Staunton Garden Centre, which has a gift shop, English wine centre and fully licensed restaurant on its site, employs 10 staff.

Zara Thorn, a business development manager at REI, which is based in Ferndown, Dorset, said: "We are finding increasing numbers of garden centres taking advantage of their large roof spaces.

"Because they don't incur any costs under our Solar Power Purchase Scheme, they can preserve their capital to spend on their core business.

"Brian and Lynn at Staunton Garden Centre have also already started to making significant savings from their energy costs, also reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to battle against climate change."

Caption: GOING GREEN: Staunton Garden Centre owner Brian Lewis and REI business development manager Zara Thorn.