A retail complex is hoping the sun will shine on its green ambitions after completing a £190,000 project to mount solar panels on its roof.

intu Chapelfield has installed 772 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels it aims to reduce its power consumption.

The shopping centre said the technology would produce up to 200,000kw per year, around 8.5pc of its annual power consumption.

Chapelfield general manager Paul McCarthy said the panels were expected to pay for themselves in nine years.

He said: 'By 2020 intu is aiming to halve our energy usage, from 2010 levels.

'We have already managed 30pc and through this project we will be able to reduce it another 10pc.

'It will pay back itself in about nine years and its life span is 30 years so that gives us 21 years of benefits.'

Retail figures have shown a strong period for the sector despite uncertainty in the wake of the Brexit vote.

Mr McCarthy said: 'We have had a strong June, locally we had a good June and national figures for July are really strong.'

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