A GARDEN centre has given its green credentials a boost - with the installation of 200 solar panels.

The power the panels will generate should help meet the needs of Thirsk Garden Centre and two neighbouring family homes.

Since taking over the garden centre 14 years ago, owners Brendan and Helen Joyce have transformed the site, making it popular for food and drink as well as garden products.

And such has been the success of the café that an extension is under way, taking the number of seats provided from 160 to some 240.

“With a growing floor space and two family homes to run, and taking into account the ever-increasing costs of conventional energy, now seemed the right time to harness the power of the sun to cut our fuel costs and improve our carbon footprint” said manager Joe Joyce.

The installation was carried out by Thirsk-based Dresser-Solar and the centre now plans to further boost its green credentials with the installation of a biomass boiler which will heat the entire site and use environmentally friendly wood chip pellets for fuel.

The use of electric vehicles for local deliveries has also been trialled.