Hydroelectric turbines will generate energy from Thames

The final go-ahead has been given to a scheme to generate electricity from the Thames in the heart of Windsor.

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead councillors gave their approval at a planning meeting on Wednesday.

They allowed the company npower renewables to put two 'Archimedes' screw hydroelectric turbines at Romney Weir on the Thames to the north of Windsor Town Centre.

The project would generate clean power to as many as 300 households and be the first of its kind in the South of England. 

It has attracted some opposition on the grounds that it might be noisy and unsightly - six letters of objection were sent by residents.

But councillors agreed this week that the benefits would outweigh the possible downside and gave their approval.