A charity which distributes furniture to the needy has received a boost to its green credentials.

Keighley Furniture Project has had solar panels installed at its Springfield Mill base, in Oakworth Road.

The work was carried out by Ilkley engineering company NG Bailey as part of its charitable giving scheme.

The eight, wall-mounted photo voltaic panels will both cut the charity’s energy bills and guarantee it an income for 25 years through selling surplus electricity to the National Grid.

Keighley Furniture Project manager Ann Sheriff said: “A biomass wood-burning boiler provides the heating and hot water for the mill and the recent installation of solar panels to generate electricity will help us achieve our goal of becoming self-sufficient from the provision of 'green' energy.

“We would like to thank NG Bailey for its very generous donation of the solar panels, thereby helping our project achieve its goal of becoming an educational centre in Keighley demonstrating re-use, recycling, biomass heating and energy conservation.

“The solar panels will help us to reduce our carbon footprint and become even more environmentally friendly.”

Cal Bailey, NG Bailey’s sustainability director, said the venture had been very rewarding and had benefited both organisations.

He added: “We were able to involve a number of our apprentices in the installation, which has given them valuable experience.

“The finished result is a renewable energy system that will bring long-lasting benefits to Keighley Furniture Project and to the environment.

“And, because we are an accredited installer, the project will receive a guaranteed annual income from the Government’s feed-in tariff scheme.”