A grant of more than £55,000 has been awarded to build solar panels at a new school.

It is hoped the panels will provide some of the electricity needed to run St Paul's Catholic College in Burgess Hill when it is built next year.

David Carden, clerk to Burgess Hill Town Council, said: "It is very much in line with our environmental charter to promote sustainability."

The £55,247 government grant will pay for the panels, which could provide all the electricity for outside lighting.

Education officers at West Sussex County Council also hope it can be used to teach pupils about renewable sources of energy.

Architect Michael Olliff, of FM Modern Design, said: "Hopefully, it will reduce overall running costs and be used to teach pupils.

"We are not in the south of France so it is not going to power the whole school but it will power some significant parts."

Construction of the school, which will replace the present buildings in Haywards Heath, is expected to begin in March next year and should be completed in September 2004.

Eight other schools around the country benefited from the Government's handout to promote solar energy.