SCHOOLS across Lancashire could soon have their water heated by solar power under plans unveiled by the county council.

Education chiefs are trying to find an affordable way of ditching traditional forms of heating water in schools in favour of solar power.

And County Hall could follow suit, with solar panels erected to keep council employees in supply of hot water thanks to the power of the sun!

Details of the project were unveiled during a meeting of Lancashire County Council's full council yesterday.

Lancashire currently has two solar-powered bus shelters. Local councils also have solar-powered parking meters.

County councillor Tony Martin, in charge of finance at the county council, said: "We are studying what sort of solar power we can use but the projects we have seen at the moment would take 20 years to pay back, and that is no good for us."

A spokesman for the county council said plans were still at an early stage with costings and implications both being looked at.