Harpenden Leisure Centre is set to become more eco-friendly following a £173k Government grant.

St Albans City and District Council have secured the funds to install solar panels, to reduce both bills and emissions.

The money is provided by the National Lottery-supported Swimming Pool Support Fund.

Steve Cox, Everyone Active area contract manager, said: "We are delighted the council has been successful in obtaining funding and it is great news that this project will further reduce the centre’s carbon footprint.

"As a result of the energy crisis, we have seen our energy bills more than double.

"The implementation of the solar panels at Harpenden Leisure Centre marks a significant step towards reducing its carbon footprint and simultaneously lowering energy costs.

"Everyone Active is proud to work alongside the council as part of our Net Zero Strategy to help achieve our company’s net zero ambitions."

The leisure centre, with nearly 4,000 members, opened just three years ago.

The council, along with its leisure contractor Everyone Active, is committed to achieving net zero target by 2030, although the panels alone won't make the centre self-sufficient.

A contract for their purchase and installation will be put out to tender.