Weirs on the River Soar could be fitted with technology to generate energy for homes and businesses.

Leicester City Council says it wants to harness hydro-electricity from the waterways under plans to find new sources of power.

Some of the city's weirs would need to be adapted or rebuilt to increase water flow in summer and ensure energy could be created all year round and in large quantities.

They are looking at results of a similar project under way in Cambridge before taking the plans forward.

The council believes that about five city weirs could be suitable, especially ones close to the Walkers Stadium and Abbey Park.

The cabinet member for environment, Councillor Robert Wann, says he will meet the Environment Agency to discuss a timetable for any work that may be needed and when it could start.

He said: "The Soar contains a number of sites which contain features possible to generate electricity.

"These will be able to supply varying amounts of electricity to neighbouring buildings depending on the scale of the installations.

"I am getting in touch with the Environment Agency to see what work could be done in the city. I am very serious about it.

"There could be opportunities to gain funding from the private sector to set these up, as the electricity could be used in nearby buildings.

"This is something that you could install, and it would not be considered as intrusive as a wind turbine, for example."

The city council has pledged to obtain 20 per cent of its energy from local renewable sources by 2025.

The pilot project in Cambridge is a mini hydro-electric generator on the River Cam weir.

The generator, which cost £292,000, produces enough electricity a year to supply dozens of nearby homes and amenities such as public toilets at a park.

A number of barrels have been put together close to the edge of the weir, and as the water is sucked downwards, the barrels turn to create electricity.

An Archimedean screw system can also be installed in a weir to generate electricity. It works in the same way as a dynamo on a bicycle wheel. Water is diverted from above the weir, flows down the screw, turning it, and back into the river.

Western Park city councillor Roger Blackmore is among those who have been asking the council to seriously consider this form of creating energy.

He said: "The River Soar has great potential for this technology to be used.

"It would be great if it could be used close to the new science park close to the space centre, as it could also be an opportunity to attract a business to develop the technology there.

"Water power drove the industrial revolution, but we have got a bit lazy. If Cambridge can do it, where the waterflow is sluggish, there is no reason why we can't do it in Leicester on a bigger river like the Soar."

Green campaigners have backed the move.

A spokesman for Friends of the Earth said: "Hydro power is an underrated source of renewable energy.

"During the Industrial Revolution, thousands of river weirs were built to power water wheels.

"These weirs can be given a new lease of life, only this time to produce electricity."