Warminster's biogas plant welcomed a visit from MEP for the South West of England and Gibraltar Julie Girling last Friday.

The Conservative MEP was given a tour of the site at Bore Hill Farm, which is one of the few independent anaerobic digestions plants in the UK.

It opened in May 2012 and is operated by Bradford on Avon firm Malaby Biogas, and a number of businesses are signed up to its food collection scheme.

Mrs Girling, who is part of the EU’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, said: “It is the largest commercial anaerobic digestion site I have been to and I was keen to see its integration.

“Anaerobic digestion and biogas, along with tidal energy, for the UK is very important for the future as it is a constant energy, you can manage it.

“Germany, for example, has almost 40 per cent of its renewable energy coming from solar panels but what use are they when the sun isn’t out? You are paying for generators to generate nothing.

“Whereas this energy is very attractive and a very predictable source of energy, but we do have to be careful though as there needs to be a balance – I do think no food should be sent to waste sites.”

The site generates energy from supplies of bulk feedstock from commercial and municipal sources, which is then put back into the local area providing electricity to homes.

Director Thomas Minter said: “The interesting thing about her visit is the EU connection.

“There are about 150 anaerobic plants in the UK, whereas when we started there were only 40 so it shows the increase over the last few years.”