Rotting rubbish at Pitsea tip will now create enough electricity to power 12,500 homes, after a high-tech landfill gas conversion system was upgraded.

Tip bosses have added a seventh landfill gas engine at the dump bringing the total invested in the system, which opened a year ago, to £7.5million.

Billericay Tory MP John Baron unveiled the latest engine - which provides 1.4 megawatts more electricity - on Friday.

He said: "On a cold day in December 2005, I had the privilege of pushing the red button to launch the opening of this multimillion-pound facility. It is very encouraging to be unveiling another engine so soon.

"As a country, we must do much more to promote renewable energy sources and reduce global warming wherever and however we can. It's nice to know that in our own little corner of south east Essex, we are doing just that."

Paul Levett, managing director of Veolia which runs the site, added: "The site also helps reduce the greenhouse gas effect. There is an ongoing restoration scheme by which we plant new trees and shrubs as parts of the tip are finished.

"Already, 42,000 trees and shrubs have been planted, helping to absorb the carbon from the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere."

The gas collection system involves a network of more than 1,000 wells and more than 65,000 metres of pipework.