A landowner is hoping to bring green power to around 100 Grasmere homes by installing a water-powered turbine in his back garden.

Bev Dennison, of Broadrayne Farm, plans to set up a £500,000 micro-hydro scheme on the River Rothay in the grounds of the Grasmere Hostel.

He is currently working on a feasibility study for the 100kw turbine in partnership with Kendal developers Gilbert Gilkes and Gordon. He hopes the scheme could be up and running by 2012.

If the plans go ahead, the turbine could provide power for more than one sixth of the village.

He said: “This is a long-term payback scheme.

“It is my aspiration to help keep the planet in a carbon-positive state. There are many more sites that have potential for this.”

On Saturday, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron and Lib-Dem Energy and Climate Change spokesman Simon Hughes MP visited the site at Grasmere.

Mr Hughes said: “People all over the country are saying we need new renewable energy schemes and if we are going to reduce emissions, we need to look to land owners like Bev to start projects like this.”

Mr Farron said: “Bev and the team at the hostel are a model of green enterprise.

“They are doing all they can to reduce their emissions and make the business as eco-friendly as is possible.”