Leicestershire’s Rural Energy Trust has won the UK prize of the Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy.

Company chairman and local farmer Richard Harvey was presented with the £30,000 prize by Sir David Attenborough at the awards ceremony hosted by John Humphrys.

The award was given for identifying the potential of wood from sustainable woodland and energy crops as an efficient and cost effective renewable heating fuel, and for realising that potential by creating sustainable heating systems for more than 11 local sites, including schools and businesses.

&#8220We already know that the technology works, but need to demonstrate its benefits locally to achieve greater uptake of small and medium scale wood heating in this country”

Richard Harvey, chairman, Rural Energy Trust

Mr Harvey said the prize would enable the company to further demonstrate and monitor wood heating systems and fuel supply chains in UK conditions. He added: “We already know that the technology works, but need to demonstrate its benefits locally to achieve greater uptake of small and medium scale wood heating in this country.”