Big Green Challenge competition

But with the application deadline of February 29 looming, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) is now urging green minded communities and groups across the South East to enter their ideas for new ways to reduce CO2 emissions for its Big Green Challenge competition.

The best ideas will be short-listed and ten finalists ultimately given a year to put their ideas into practice, with financial support and advice from NESTA.

The group with the most imaginative - and proven - approach at the end of the competition will win the lion's share of the million pounds up for grabs.

Commenting on the competition, NESTA Chief Executive Jonathan Kestenbaum said: "There are some potentially great ideas out there that could have real impact on climate change and we're determined to help bring them to the surface. Groups should see the competition as a way of showing government and scientists what anyone is capable of."

Around 250 groups nationwide have already submitted their ideas.

Others who want to be in with a chance of winning a slice of the 1 million prize should log on to www.biggreenchallenge.org.uk to complete an application.