A massive solar farm in the Norfolk countryside has been given permission to stay in place until 2052.

Councillors at North Norfolk District Council have unanimously approved plans to keep an 82,280-panel solar scheme on Bunkers Hill in Egmere - which powers around 5,200 homes a year - in place for an extra 13 years.

The 118-acre site – roughly equivalent to 59 football pitches - on the old RAF North Creake airbase between Fakenham and Wells was built in 2014 and was originally due to be removed in 2039. 

Ahead of the meeting, CPRE Norfolk, a countryside charity, argued against the panels staying in place saying the scheme results in the loss of land for food production. 

Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew Brown branded the objection by CPRE as “surprising” given that it was an extension to an existing project and would not take any new land out of use. 

Adam Varley, the cabinet member for climate, added: “I fully support this, it is very important that we back this initiative.

"We need to do everything we can to ensure that we are tackling climate change, and this will produce green energy.”