A GROWING family business has turned to solar energy to power its expanding operations.

Thirsk Garden Centre has installed 200 solar panels, which will generate 50 kilowatts of power following the installation by Dresser-Solar, also based in Thirsk.

Since taking over the garden centre 14 years ago, owners Brendan and Helen Joyce have transformed the site, making it a popular place for food and drink as well as garden products.

Such has been the success of the café that an extension is under way, taking the number of seats provided from 160 to around 240.

Garden Centre manager Joe Joyce said: "With a growing floor space and two family homes to run, and taking into account the ever-increasing costs of conventional energy, now seemed the right time to harness the power of the sun to cut our fuel costs and improve our carbon footprint."

The garden centre intends to give its green credentials a further boost with the installation of a biomass boiler, which will heat the entire site, while the use of electric vehicles for local deliveries have also been trialled.

To cope with the centre’s growing success, more family members have been drafted in.

The team now includes Helen and son Joe as Garden Centre managers with help from nephew Johnny; husband Brendan, two sons, Tom and Dave, and Joe’s wife Sam in Accounts and Sam’s auntie managing the coffee shop.

Other members of the family are involved in the building of the new extension, with work carried out by nephew Chris Padget Building and Joinery.