ENVIRONMENTALIST, TV presenter and green campaigner Dick Strawbridge officially opened the new hydro-electric scheme at historic Cotehele Mill on Saturday.

The turbine will generate enough electricity to power the mill and outbuildings, with any surplus being sold back to the national grid.

The scheme was launched four years ago with a £72,500 grant — £20,500 was also received from the East Cornwall Action Group to re-instate the bakery at the historic mill, which closed at the beginning of the first world war.

A spokesman for the National Trust, which owns the site, said demonstrations, courses and activities to make use of the bakery would be run on the site, using the flour ground by the mill.

The mill is now open to the public every day until November, between 11am and 5pm.