BURNLEY'S wind farm at Coal Clough is to play a key role in improving Lancashire's environmental record.

The county will become a little greener thanks to a pledge from the county council to increase its use of clean energy and reduce its use of fossil fuels.

County Councillor Hazel Harding has officially signed the council up to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change - a clear commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and planning for a better environmental future.

She visited Coal Clough Wind Farm, just outside Burnley, to see green energy production in action.

All of the county council's street lighting is now powered by wind generated electricity, slashing carbon dioxide emissions by 25,000 tonnes per year.

The Nottingham Agreement commits the council to working with the Government to contributing to the UK climate change programme and working with local communities and organisations to make Lancashire greener.

The agreement commits the council to producing a Climate Change Strategy and is in line with their Local Agenda 21 Strategy, published in 2000, which sets out a blueprint for sustainable development in Lancashire. Coun Harding said: "Evidence suggests climate change is happening. We recognise this could have far reaching effects for Lancashire's environment and economy.

"The county council can play a major part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and show the way for others. We have already taken major strides towards using greener energy sources for things like street lighting. This alone will reduce our emissions by 25,000 tonnes per annum over the next two years.

"Our Climate Change Strategy will set out other ways in which we can reduce emissions and plan for the effects of climate change in Lancashire."

Lancashire is part of a pioneering consortium comprising Cumbria, Manchester and Wolverhampton councils who have teamed up with the Lancashire Purchasing Agency to buy green energy from a designated renewable source.