DURSLEY Rugby Club is now being powered by sunshine after a successful fundraising campaign to bring green energy to the club. 

More than £24,000 was raised through an Aviva Crowdfunder last October to pay for the panels and installation - supplementing money was already received through grants from Nuclear Restoration Services, Gloucestershire County Council & The Luke Wheaton Legacy Trust. 

Electricity produced from the panels will significantly reduce energy costs at the club, which reached £10,000 a year.

The club is used by more than 1,000 in the local area for rugby, cricket, running and community events. 

On Friday, January 26 , representatives from the grant funders and Crowdfunder supporters attended the rugby club for a tour and thank you celebration.

Gazette Series: The volunteer management committee welcomed funders to the club to say thank you for their supportThis included Kate Baxter from Nuclear Restoration Services, Cllr Brian Tipper from Gloucestershire County Council, Matt Wheaton from the Luke Wheaton Legacy Trust and a team from supplier West Country Electrical Services.

Stew Angell is the volunteer mini & youth chair at the rugby club and also led the project.

He said: "The solar panels and storage batteries were installed in December and have been switched on and running throughout January.

"They are hidden away on the changing rooms roof and can provide a 40Kw of energy on a sunny day, even in January.

"Thanks to everyone who donated, we are already generating our own power and look forward to our bills going down!"