RYEDALE primary schools are being urged to take part in a competition to win solar panels for their school.

Friends of the Earth has crowd-funded the renewable energy project which will see primary schools across the area submit entries such as a piece of artwork or a short film demonstrating why they would want their school to be powered by solar energy.

The competition is part of the groups new Run on Sun campaign, supported by the People's Postcode Lottery, and the group is hoping to make it easier for schools to benefit from solar power.

York and Ryedale Friends of the Earth has been campaigning for a change to be made to make it easier for schools to borrow money to install solar panels.

In July, the group sent a letter to MP Anne McIntosh, urging her to ask Secretary of State for Education Nicky Morgan to lift the restrictions on schools borrowing money to install solar panels.

Spokesperson for the group Josie Downs said: "We got a response back from David Laws MP to our letter, Minister of State for Cabinet Office and Minister of State for Schools.

"The letter really wasn't very positive. They do make exceptions for things like LED lights and we would have thought that solar panels could come in to that category but they don't seem to think so.

"This competition is a fantastic opportunity for schools across North Yorkshire to save thousands of pounds through clean energy and for young people to learn about solar power."

The winning school will receive a solar installation free of charge, saving the school thousands of pounds each year as well as helping the environment. The winner will be chosen by the public votes and will be announced at the start of 2015.

Nominations close on October 24 and to nominate a school visit www.foe.co.uk

A petition to support the movement to make it easier for schools to install solar panels can also be signed on the website; it has so far gathered 250,000 signatures.