Couple ordered to remove 'ugly' solar panels on cottage

Couple told to remove their cottage's solar panels

A couple have been told to take down ten thousand pounds' worth of solar panels from their cottage because they are ruining the look of it.

Andrew and Claire Ashley installed 18 panels on their Grade II listed home in Wiltshire in February - and say they have seen their electricity bill halved.

An average solar panel system costs around £7,700 to install. When it produces electricity from the sun you can either use it directly in your home or export it to the grid - reducing your bills by almost half (40%).

But the Royal Institution of chartered Surveyors claim they take 100 years to pay back their installation costs.

Despite that the homeowners insist the solar panels are worth having but the local council says the panels can not stay. Martin Dowse has more.