FOREST vicars the revs Philippa Brunt and Nick Bromfield have started harvesting power from the sun to help keep the vicarage lights burning.

They have just had photovoltaic panels installed on their roofs as part of a Church of England drive to save cash and reduce the carbon footprints of vicarages and churches throughout the West of England.

"We've still got the scaffolding up," said Rev Brunt on Monday. "It's too early to say how it will help but the dials are going round, so that's a good sign!"

The scheme will be extended to some churches but Rev Brunt pointed out that this may not be possible on some since they are listed buildings. There are also insulation issues.

"But I'm sure many have roofs where panels can be kept out of sight, such as those with double-pitch roofs," she said.

The Church of England launched the major new project to help churches, schools and vicarages cut their carbon footprint on Monday this week. "Despite cuts to the electricity Feed in Tariff, the church still plans to forge ahead with a project to install PV panels on buildings, called Eco Church South West – a partnership between the dioceses of Gloucester, Exeter and Bath and Wells, with green energy supplier Ecotricity," says a Church of England spokesman.

Over 40 vicarages, three churches and two schools in and around Gloucestershire now have PV panels and a further 300 churches, 200 schools and 100 vicarages across the South West are interested in progressing with the scheme.