The Vantage Point Business Village is earning its green credentials with the removal of its ageing gas boilers.

The move is part of business village owner Brian Bennett's goal of making the business park carbon neutral within three years. Brian said the removal of the boilers was bringing about the end of an era.

"We're beginning to be a green business village and this is part of a master plan to replace inefficient gas boilers with combined heat and power units," he said.

"We will have the capacity to supply a significant amount of what the business village needs.

"This is part of a multi-million pound investment to make this the first truly green business village in the country."

The four massive boilers had supplied heat to the former Rank Xerox site in Mitcheldean since around 1985.

They were removed during a five-hour operation with 80 ft telescopic cranes and loaded onto special heavy haulage lorries last Tuesday.

The boilers are now being transported more than 5,000 miles to be reused again in Pakistan.

Steve Histed, 41, from Mitcheldean took care of the boilers for more than 10 years.

"There used to be three boiler houses on the site and we've pretty much got shot of all of them," he said.

"It was quite hard work because even in the summer when heat wasn't needed, the boilers had to be stripped down and cleaned."

Pat Madley, facilities engineer at Vantage Point, said: "The old boilers used to burn a lot of gas and the new units will put out much less carbon dioxide.

"New insulation has been put in so the buildings don't need that much heat."

The new insulation was part of £1 million of investment to cut down energy consumption which included new roofing, double glazing and lighting.