A pioneering Bungay church is looking to turn itself into an example of environmentally-friendly technologies.

Emmanuel Church is hoping to use old car tyres for flooring, a rainwater harvesting system for flushing the toilet and thermal panels to heat hot water as it becomes an educational facility for the community.

The church has previously installed 220 solar panels on its roof but is now trying to raise �131,000 for the next stage of its ambitious Going Green project.

Other eco-friendly initiatives include installing wall and loft insulation, secondary glazing, under floor heating using borehole technology and eco taps to conserve the water.

Project co-ordinator Graham Gibbs said: 'We want to create a working model covering as many environmentally friendly technologies as we can in our suite of buildings behind the church in Rose Lane.

'Not only will we have a suite of halls and rooms fit for the 21st century, but we will have a working model where people will be able to see for themselves and discover which environmental technology would suit them and their household the best.

'We have been in contact with the local schools asking them whether they would use us as a learning resource when studying science and environmental issues as part of their curriculum.'

The cost of this project has been set at �131,000 and the church has committed �55,000 towards this through a 10 year plan.

It is already generating electricity from the solar panels and the church has been the runner-up in the Community Energy Project category of Suffolk's Greenest County Awards for the past two years.

To make a contribution to the project contact treasurer Cherry White, 12 Bardolph Road, Bungay, NR35 1BN, with cheques made out to Bungay Emmanuel Church.

richard.wood@archant.co.uk