In a first for the East of England a ground source heat pump has been used to reduce the cost of energy bills for customers of a housing association.

Flagship Group has run the pioneering project which will improve heating prices for customers at its 30 Orchard Close flats in Watton.

Previously, there were electric storage heaters which were inefficient and expensive to run but the new system, which draws energy from the earth, will cut bills by two thirds, Flagship said, and also result in no carbon emissions.

Stuart Longbottom, strategic director for asset management at Flagship, said: 'We are committed to continually improving our renewable energy sources to help tackle fuel poverty and reduce our carbon footprint, and this system does that.'

Attleborough-based Finn Geotherm, who won an EDP Business Award last year, worked in partnership with Aaron Services to install the system.