A PIONEERING environmental building in York is joining a European celebration of solar power.

The York Environmental Community Centre - the first public sustainable building in the country - will be at the forefront of the International Solar Energy Society's day of appreciating the sun's power.

The centre, built in Tang Hall with cash including a £300,000 lottery grant, creates its own power through solar panels fastened to it. A wind turbine is yet to be connected, but will add to electricity used by the building.

Inside, a panel of gauges shows how much power is being created, how much is used and how much is sold on to the National Grid.

It is one of only two panels of its kind in the country. The other is in Greenpeace's headquarters.

The building, which has formed the base for the Friends of St Nicholas' Fields, is used widely by schools and has its own education officer, Judith Ward, to teach curriculum subjects involving the environment.

But Gordon Campbell Thomas, project co-ordinator of the Friends, said school pupils were not the only people who could use it.

He said: "It is a community centre and it is there for use by the whole community for whatever they want it for, from wedding receptions to lectures."

The power of the sun is demonstrated clearly.

Mr Campbell Thomas said: "There is a wood-burning stove, but it is very rarely needed because of the power that is created by the sun, even on cloudy days.

"You can see from the heat of the water here what it's effect is. It is heated just by solar power, and it is hot enough to bathe in."

Visitors are shown its effect by gadgets including an electrically -powered water fountain.

If a solar panel is directed to catch the sun, water shoots into the air.

If it is pointed the other way, the fountain stops.

The SunDay sees events across Europe to celebrate solar power.

The Environmental Community Centre will be open between 11am and 4pm on Sunday.

For more information about the open day or the centre, telephone 01904 411821.

PICTURE: GOING GREEN: Gordon Campbell Thomas, with education officer, Judith Ward outside the St Nicholas Fields Environmental Centre in York

Picture: Steven Bradshaw