Tesco and Shell are to buy the entire output of a controversial solar farm under construction on the Kent coast that was originally meant to power 100,000 homes. The two companies have signed deals to purchase all the electricity generated by Cleve Hill,

The solar farm off Ridge Road in Girard Township is expected to produce enough electricity to power 3,000 homes and businesses.

Furious campaigners claim the supermarket and oil firm should be generating their own power by putting solar panels on their stores and petrol stations.

Tesco has signed a deal to acquire enough solar energy to power 144 of its large stores, purchasing almost two-thirds of the electricity generated by the Cleve Hill solar park in Kent.