OKEHAMPTON played host to five local councils from both sides of the Channel last Wednesday as part of an energy saving project.

The £2-million EU-funded project, called Sustainable Energy Across the Common Space, has brought together Devon, Dorset and Wiltshire County Councils, along with the county of Cotes d'Armor, and the French agglomeration of Lannion-Trégor in Brittany in France.

Representatives from the five authorities met in Okehampton last Wednesday at the start of a three-day summit to learn about each other's experience in promoting energy efficiency.

They will also aim to establish local and cross Channel energy-saving initiatives.

Cllr Roger Croad, Devon County Council cabinet member for environment and community, said: 'This is an exciting project which will test various ways of reducing our energy demand.'

The cross Channel network will look to jointly raise awareness among individual households, communities, schools and the partner authorities.

The three-year project will undertake feasibility studies of a variety of renewable energy technology to find the most effective ways of reducing energy demand and consumption.