A GROUP of visitors donned hard hats to discover the inner workings of their local sewage works.

Thames Water opened the doors of the Didcot sewage works at the weekend.

The day out with a difference started in the company's education centre to find out about how it provides waste water services for around 37,000 people in the local area.

Visitors then went on a walk around the plant to see the different stages of the treatment process, where waste water is cleaned and released safely back into the environment.

They also discovered how renewable energy can be generated from a by-product of the process called sludge.

Guests saw the enormous pile of sludge which will go on to be heated at high temperatures to produce gas, which is then converted into electricity to help power the sewage works – the equivalent green energy to run 200 homes.

Paul Hampton, of Thames Water, said: “The open day was a great success.

"We always enjoy showing people around the site and explaining what happens to waste water when it leaves their homes.

"The group were particularly interested in how we care for and protect the environment, and were fascinated by the work done at the treatment plant to generate our own green power.”

As part of its 2020-25 business plan, unveiled earlier this month, Thames Water aims to generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 115,000 homes.

It is also aiming to reduce pollutions by 18 per cent.