GROUND investigation work for a new £3m hydroelectric power plant on the Thames south of Oxford began this week.

Contractors on the scheme at Sandford-on-Thames have started drilling holes 25m into the ground to find out what type of soil they will be working with.

For the team at Low Carbon Hub, who have been bringing the scheme to life for the past two years, Monday marked the long-awaited first day onsite.

Operations director Adriano Figueiredo said: “It was great to finally see activity on the site.”

Chemical traces and acidity levels in the soil will help them decide the best type of foundations to use. Construction is due to start in April or May and will take approximately seven months.

The scheme should be generating power by the end of 2016.

It will consist of two Archimedes screws installed in the Thames at Sandford Weir which would be turned by the water to generate electricity.

The plant is expected to create 1,600MWh per year of clean electricity, enough to power 400 homes.

The scheme is being funded by community investment, with investors becoming shareholders, the same model used to fund the hydro power plant at Osney Lock in Oxford.