PUBS, cafes and hotels across the South West could could save millions in energy bills if they installed alternative energy sources like solar panels.

A report by Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, estimates that the hospitality and leisure sector could save at least £25.2m on their energy bills if they fitted new technology like solar panels and battery storage.

The Distributed Energy: Powering the Future of Hospitality and Leisure report added that if just half of the sector's businesses adopted new energy technology it would boost the region’s economic growth by £300m and support an additional 4,200 jobs.

Alan Barlow, UK and Ireland director at Centrica Business Solutions, said: “The South West is home to some of the UK’s most visited towns and cities – the value of tourism in the region topped £10.6 billion in 2015.

"Investment in new energy technology, could help companies to manage challenges during busier periods, as well as increase their energy efficiency.

“Solar power, battery storage, combined heat and power units – these types of new energy technology can help fuel business growth by improving cash flow or realising additional revenue streams through selling energy back to the National Grid."