A Fenland fruit farming business wants to put an extra 216 solar panels on their land.

Alan Hudson Limited has asked Fenland District Council for permission to install 216 photovoltaic panels (PV) on land west of Bevis Lane, Wisbech St Mary.

The panels, which do not require direct sunlight, would help to reduce energy costs, lower carbon dioxide emissions and diminish the company’s dependency on the National Grid.

Any electricity generated not used on site would be exported to the National Grid.

The 200 acre farm, which is used for fruit production, was granted permission to put 216 panels on their site in February 2012.

But the panels, which cover 304.9metres, were mistakenly installed in two blocks instead of four, meaning retrospective planning permission is required.

They have produced about 87,000kWh of electricity since being commissioned.

Were the application to be successful, the total area covered by the 432 panels would be 609.80m.

They would generate 103,680kwh a year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 44,582kg.

The company was founded in 1957 and employ 14 full-time staff.

They will find out if their application has been successful on November 4.