THERE may not be much of it about at the moment - but sunshine is being hailed as the future of North Yorkshire's road signs.

Road chiefs plan to roll out more and more solar-powered signs - and even bus shelters - after a successful trial across the county.

So far, North Yorkshire County Council has installed 50 signs powered by the sun.

County councillor Peter Sowray, executive member for environmental services, said: "Using this technology helps the county council to reduce its use of electricity, which saves money and helps to protect the environment by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from the power stations that generate the electricity."

Among the signs already in place across the county are ice warning signs, school signs, no- entry signs and vehicle-activated advisory signs. They include:

Three flashing school signs in Egton, in the North York Moors National Park

Two vehicle-activated signs in Great and Little Ouseburn

A no entry sign in Tadcaster

Trials are also being conducted in Harrogate on solar-powered bus timetable cases and illuminated bus shelters.

Updated: 10:26 Monday, January 02, 2006