RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has backed Westminster moves to allow community groups generating electricity to sell it local residents.

Now they are banned from supplying power from local energy structures, such as a field of solar panels or wind turbines, to people living in the neighbourhood.

Instead it has to be sold to large utility companies or the National Grid.

The Local Electricity Bill, if made law, would create a 'right to local supply' for communities, allowing them to benefit from the money currently received by larger utilities.

Mr Evans said, "It is vital that communities benefit as our economy transitions to one with increasingly more decentralised and clean energy.

"The Local Electricity Bill will enable local energy generation to benefit local communities. I will do all I can to ensure it becomes law."