THE FAMILY owners of a Newton Abbot holiday park are helping to pioneer a new green energy system.

Dornafield park at Two Mile Oak has teamed up with Renewable Energy 4 Devon (RE4D) to showcase a newly-developed and super-efficient solar heating technology.

Powered entirely by the sun's rays, it will provide constant hot water for up to 60 families on the award-winning park even in cold and cloudy conditions.

Alistair Dewhirst, a partner in Dornafield's family business, said: "As well as the environmental benefits of our new solar system, we see it as a real boon in helping to attract more visitors early and late in the year.

"This will also have a direct spin-off for the many other local businesses which depend on Devon's tourism economy."

RE4D, which is funded by Devon County Council, says the system could save up to five tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere each year.

The project, which also won the backing of Teignbridge Council, has seen the installation of 90 vacuum-sealed glass cylinders on the park's shower and amenity building.

They are capable of heating the park's 1000-litre heat-store tank up to 85C — far higher than conventional solar systems — to provide constant hot water and continual under floor heating.

During the first week of operation the system saved around 65 kwh of energy — the equivalent of running 65 one-bar electric fires for an hour.

Holidaymakers are able to view a computer display panel outside the facilities block which shows the temperature of the solar-heated water, and the running total of energy savings made.

Earlier this year, Dornafield were awarded the 'best year-round site' accolade in the annual Practical Caravan awards, beating more than 3,000 other parks in the UK.

The park provides 135 pitches in total, and has been run by the Dewhirst family for more than 30 years.