A DISTRICT councillor's bright idea to save energy looks set to cut a village's fuel bills by more than £130,000 and could lead to financial savings for the rest of Wyre Forest.

Cookley councillor, Chris Nicholls, will be handing out 1,100 energy efficient light bulbs to his fellow villagers this week and hopes the pilot scheme by Wyre Forest District Council could be rolled out throughout the district if it proves a success.

He explained each bulb should last for 12 years and would save homeowners £10 a year in fuel if used for an average of three hours a day.

"We know the devastating impact climate change is having so what I wanted to do was try and get people in Cookley to contribute towards reducing it," said Mr Nicholls.

"For that reason, me and my fellow parish councillors will be delivering these light bulbs and a survey to every household.

"If they fill in this survey, they will find out how to reduce their energy costs."

He added residents were not obliged to do anything to their homes but could benefit from subsidised insulation or grants from the Government.

Explaining he had "taken it upon himself" to suggest the project, when he realised the district council had "a stack of these bulbs", he said: "To raise awareness in the district it would be a good idea to take them out to Cookley.

"Hopefully, it will also encourage other people in the district to do their bit towards reducing the impact of climate change."

Adding that the importance of looking after the environment had been underlined by the effect of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, he said: "If you look at all the natural disasters that keep on occurring we have to do something to reduce the impact of climate change.

"Saving the environment is very important."