Furnishings retailer Glasswells is installing more than 20,000sq ft of solar panels on the roof of its store in Bury St Edmunds.

It is the latest “green” initiative by the company, following the replacement last year of 4,500 light fittings and bulbs throughout its showrooms in Bury and Ipswich with a new low-energy system.

The latest investment, work on which is expected to take around four weeks to complete, involves the installation of nearly 1,000 solar panels on the south facing slopes of the roof on the store in Newmarket Road, Bury.

Paul Glasswell, managing director, said: “The panels should generate up to 250kw of energy, which will significantly reduce the amount of electricity we consume from the national grid.

“We have another large store in Ipswich and a 76,000 square foot warehouse on the east side of town, which could both be considered for the same sort of thing in the future.

“This is a large investment for the company. However, the long term benefits to the environment and the reduction in our carbon footprint over the next 30 years are certainly worth the initial outlay.

“This venture identifies Glasswells as a forward thinking, progressive and environmentally responsible organisation within East Anglia.” he added.