A BRICK manufacturing factory at Hartlebury has celebrated a year of helping the environment by using renewable energy.

Baggeridge Brick, at Waresley, generates electricity using gas from a nearby landfill site.

The factory produces up to 100 million bricks a year for household and commercial uses. It uses two mega watts of electricity - 80 per cent of which is renewable.

Apart from the environmental benefits, the company is making major cuts in carbon emissions.

John Sandford, technical director of Baggeridge, said: "By implementing a dedicated 24/7, 365-day a year operation we have collected 9.5 million kilo watt hours per annum and have achieved some cost savings which we have been able to re-invest in the business."