They've got the power.

A huge wind turbine is being built at a Boxted vineyard to provide electricity for practically the whole site.

Carters Vineyard is planning to harness the power of nature to supply the tasting room, water pumps, lighting and all of the office machinery.

Eastern Electricity donated £2,500 to the cost of the £10,000 turbine through its EcoPower Trust.

There is already a wind turbine at the Green Lane vineyard which generated 250w of power. The new turbine will provide 6kw.

Proprietor Mary Mudd said: "Both the turbines will be the same height, but the new one has much bigger blades."

If all goes to plan the giant windmill will be put in place next Thursday. Essex University is also getting involved with the environmentally-friendly project, with the electronic systems department designing a new control system for the turbine.

Mrs Mudd said: "They are developing a system to maximise its efficiency at all wind speeds."

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