HUNDREDS of homes are to get free electricity as part of efforts to protect the environment and drive down energy bills.

Weaver Vale Housing Trust is installing solar panels on 400 properties during the next five months and plans to carry on this work next year and beyond.

The panels will provide free electricity during daylight hours and should save tenants at least £150 a year on their bills.

Mary Fairhurst, of Comboy Drive, in Rudheath, has had the panels installed.

She said: "They are a great idea, I think they look good and will hopefully save me a lot of money."

The trust has installed solar panels on more than 600 homes over the past two years and their surveyors have been working to identify others that could benefit.

Homes need to face within 45 degrees of due south, have the right sort of roof and a certain type of connection to the energy network before panels can be installed.

It is hoped that as technology improves even more homes may become suitable.

Trust surveyor Matt Woolley said: "Many customers tell us that energy bills are a big drain on their finances so it is very satisfying to be able to help in this way.

"Unfortunately not every home would benefit from solar panels but we are doing everything we can to seek out those properties that can."

Weaver Vale Housing Trust receives a small income, based on how much each house generates, from a scheme called the feed-in tariff.

Money raised will be reinvested by the not-for-profit trust into homes, neighbourhoods and creating local jobs.