PARRENTHORN High School has become the latest venue to join Bury's green revolution by drawing up plans to install its own wind turbine.

The Prestwich school became the first in the borough to gain permission to build a £25,000, 28ft-high wind turbine, to power part of the school.

The three-blade turbine will generate 6kw of energy every hour, which is enough to power about 20 computers, saving the school hundreds of pounds a year.

It is set to be erected in the next few months as part of a £7.5 million boost for the campus on Heywood Road, which will see the addition of classrooms, an assembly hall, a music suite and technology labs.

Bury Council's energy officer Ian Smith said: "This is a pilot study which we will be keeping a close eye on. The turbine will be positioned on grass land by a bus layby.

"The school has an ideal location for a wind turbine because it is susceptible to wind and is far enough away from homes so there is no risk of noise nuisance or loss of visual impairment for residents."

Last June, Alan and Janet Turner, of Moorside Road, Tottington, became the first homeowners in the borough to install a turbine, with a rotor diameter of almost 6ft, at their property, with the aim of saving a third on conventional electricity usage.

In February this year, supermarket giants Tesco got in on the act, winning planning permission to erect their own turbine at its Prestwich store, off Bury New Road.

It will measure 30ft in height and have a rotor diameter of 11ft. When it is erected, it is expected to slash the company's power bills by powering the tills and lights.

The council is set to carry out a feasibility study on installing solar panels to generate hot water at Ramsbottom Pool and Fitness Centre, Porritt Way, Ramsbottom.

It has also announced its intention to draw up an action plan on how to reduce carbon emissions from all council premises and vehicles