Labour's team in North East Cambridgeshire visited the McCain food factory at Whittlesey, as Parliamentary spokesperson Peter Roberts invited local Euro MP Richard Howitt to the Fens.

Richard and Peter were taken on a tour of the company's wind turbines with Richard describing them as "one of many exciting features at the factory designed to help the company go green and make a profit."

McCain's exotic sounding 'anaerobic lagoon' will soon be able to turn waste potato water into electricity.

The lagoon which can hold 77,000 tonnes of water is already used to ferment waste potato water, producing a gas which can be pumped back into the plant's boilers to produce more chips. Now the plant is developing facilities which will enable them to clean up the gas and convert it into electricity. The lagoon, combined with the wind turbines, will mean that the factory can produce 70% of its own electricity.

Peter and Richard explored the latest developments at the 'anaerobic lagoon' and highlighted the fact that being green isn't just good for the environment but can be cost effective too.

Richard pledged his ongoing support to help businesses reduce their carbon footprint and protect our local environment ahead of the upcoming European elections.

Richard said: "Who'd have thought potato waste could then be turned into electricity? McCain's, here in Whittlesey, is a great example of how innovative ideas can help businesses go green and make a profit.

"One of my priorities in the European elections is ensuring that we uphold our commitments to reducing carbon, in Cambridgeshire and across Europe, so that we can protect our local environment for generations to come."

"I've worked hard to ensure that an £83 million pot of European cash has been made available to businesses in Cambridgeshire and across the East of England to help them learn to reduce their carbon without reducing their profits."

"I'm proud that the East of England is leading the way in renewable energy and am committed to helping businesses go green without going for broke."