ONE VILLAGE'S bid to raise £3m to build a 20-acre solar farm has reached 75 per cent of its target.

Charlbury residents now have a £2,500,000 bank loan and private pledges totalling £1,050,000 to make Southill solar farm a reality.

The Sustainable Charlbury Group just needs £350,000 to build the power plant on the Cornbury Estate near the village.

In order to reach the target the group has extended its investment deadline to July 4 (it was originally April 8).

Group member Tim Crisp said this week: "Southill Community Energy is really now on the last lap of what has sometimes felt like a marathon.

"We are nearly there, having reached 75 per cent of our target equity raise.

"We have now extended the share offer to July 4 when we hope to be celebrating our own version of Independence Energy Day."

The group has ordered the panels and has now pencilled in the weekend of August 8 to start ground works.

Mr Crisp added: "The solar panels on order are a bit special – they are edged in black, not in silver like normal panels.

"This is because of our commitment to reducing the visual impact of the solar farm – black frames won't give a checkerboard effect or glint in the sun.

"We have also ordered our first beehive and look forward to producing Southill Solar honey."

Find out more at southillcommunityenergy.co.uk