A former coal mine at Castleford in West Yorkshire is once again producing energy.

Methane from the shafts of Wheldale mine is being used to run a power station on the site producing electricity for the national grid.

The plant, built by Alkane Energy, will supply enough power for 8,000 homes.

It has been opened by the Energy Minister Brian Wilson who said that using methane from former coal mines is an environmentally-friendly way of producing power.

Cut emissions

"If fully exploited it could provide an extremely valuable contribition to meeting the UK's Kyoto targets," he said.

There are more than 1,000 abandoned coal mines in the UK.

Before the power plant was built, methane from Wheldale, which closed in 1987, had been escaping into the atmosphere.

It is estimated the plant will cut these emissions by 85%.