Residents in the East Riding have been given their first look at plans for a £5m scheme to turn waste food into energy.

Ambitious plans for one of the UK's first anaerobic digestion (AD) energy generating stations, proposed for land near Driffield, went on public display this afternoon.

The aim of the event is to let people have their say on the development before the plans are submitted to East Riding Council in January.

The plant, which would create 30 jobs, will produce electricity for the National Grid, heat for local homes and factories, and organic fertiliser for farms.

New business Green Wold Energy Ltd (GWE) want to build the ground-breaking energy plant on a site at Eastburn Farm.

The public consultation and exhibition of the plans is being held Kirkburn Village Hall, which is also near the proposed development site.

Tom Megginson, 34, a Green Wold director, said: "We believe that it is important that people who live in the area have their say on the plans.

"We want to get it right, and people's views and ideas could be incorporated in the final design of the plant.

"This is not only a green scheme, but also makes use of a valuable resource, waste food."

The plant will convert 50,000 tonnes of waste a year from local food manufacturers, supermarkets, and the agricultural industry.

It will provide electricity for 2,000 homes, heat for factories on the neighbouring Kelleythorpe Industrial Estate, and proposed houses on the former RAF Driffield site.

The development fits in with the Government's renewable energy plans, and if everything goes to plan work will start on the plant next summer.