Approval for a £200,000 grant towards the cost of a biomass boiler for Dorchester's Municipal Buildings complex is expected in the coming days.

Dorchester town council clerk Adrian Stuart says the money will mainly be used for the new boiler but will also help towards the price of a heat recovery system, solar panels and electric vehicle charge points.

He told town councillors at their meeting on Monday evening that the Low Carbon Dorset grant was shortly expected to be signed off which would allow the town council to agree the installation contract.

Town mayor Cllr Richard Biggs described the announcement as 'excellent news' which has followed on from the recent grant of planning consent for new town council offices to the rear of the building.

"It's great to see this proceeding…it's the final piece of the jigsaw," said Cllr Biggs.

The new boiler, using locally sourced fuel, will replace an ageing gas-fired system. It has the capacity to also be able to share heat with neighbouring buildings.

There has been criticism from a handful of people that it will add to air pollution in the area but the manufacturer has said this is not the case. No concerns were raised by Dorset Council's environmental health team when they came to assess the recent planning application for the new building which will house the boiler to the rear of the Municipal Buildings.