A share offer which allows people to buy a stake in a solar “power station” at Watchfield was launched by Wantage MP Ed Vaizey.

Hundreds of people from across the UK attended the launch which was part of an energy and sustainability fair held at Westmill Farm where more than 21,000 polycrystalline solar panels — enough to power 1,400 homes — have been erected on a 30-acre site.

The site was constructed by investor Blue Energy with the aim of turning it into a cooperative similar to the Westmill Wind Farm Cooperative which has five wind turbines on the same site.

The solar share offer is now open until the end of July and anyone can apply to be part of the cooperative. The minimum investment is £250 rising to to £20,000 maximum.

For details of how to apply see www.westmillsolar.coop