THE Bishop of Hereford has scaled great heights to celebrate a higher power in Ledbury.

The Rt Rev Anthony Priddis blessed 54 solar panels on the parish church roof on Monday.

The bishop conducted the ceremony at St Michael and All Angels from a cherry picker.

Vicar Paul Dunthorne believes the church is the first in Hereford diocese to install solar panels and hopes that more will follow.

“It has taken a long time to get planning permission but patience paid off,” he said. “It is amazing how the church, which has served this community for more than 1,000 years, has changed during that time.

“Now we are producing our own power here in the 21st century, something our forefathers could not have even imagined.”

The panels, which are not visible from the ground, lie on three south-facing roofs and can generate a maximum of 10 kilowatts.