SOLAR panels are cutting one Wootton Bassett family's power bill by a third, as well as helping the planet.

IT manager Jason Cook had 14 photovoltaic panels installed into one section of his end terrace house's roof 18 months ago.

Since then, a third of Mr Cook's electricity has come from the panels.

The 39-year-old said he installed the panels because he wanted his house to be more sustainable.

"When the sun shines, they create electricity," said Mr Cook, who is married to Ann, 38, and has a daughter, Callista, 5.

"Over the first year we have had them, they provided about a third of our energy."

The panels cost £9,000 but half of the cost was covered by a Government environmental grant available to anyone installing them.

Mr Cook said that he had to hunt around to find a contractor to buy and install the tiles, but after that it was simple.

"We had all the tiles taken off and wood put down and then the panels put on," Mr Cook said.

"Then the tiles fit around them."

Mr Cook said that he could have installed solar panels which produced hot water but decided the electricity producers were a better bet.

"We could get hot water solar panels but they weren't as good," Mr Cook said.

"You also get a bigger Government grant for solar panels that produce electricity.

"Ours cost £9,000 but the Government paid half.

"With hot water panels, you only get £500 irrespective of size."

Mr Cook said that the panels produced power, even on cloudy days.

"Since we have had the solar panels installed, we have only had four days when we didn't create any electricity in a day," Mr Cook said.

"It's created by light, not sunlight."

When the panels produce more electricity than the family use, the excess power is sold to power company Good Energy through the national grid.

When the panels fall short, the family buys power back.

The trick is using the power when it is produced by the house - excess energy raises 4.5p but buying electricity back costs 8p.

"In practice, it means we use our appliances when it's sunny," Mr Cook said.

"It's being environmental, really.

"I have been aware of the impacts of burning fossil fuel for a while.

"Good Energy only supply electricity from sustainable resources."

He said that the panels, which have a lifespan of 20 years, did not require maintenance or planning permission, even in the Wootton Bassett Victory Row conservation area where the family lives.