An electrician is installing 100 solar panels at a Kenyan school to say thanks for the help the country gave to his sister.

Russell Lyne, 31, of Highbury Quadrant, Highbury, came up with the idea after his sister Becky, an ex-European under-21 800m champion and 2012 Olympic hopeful, struggled to get a share of UK Athletic’s limited training resources.

Kenyan athlete Janeth Japkoskei, the world 800m champion, invited Ms Lyne to train with the Kenyan team for three months free of charge.

Mr Lyne struck a deal with suppliers to get a discount if he installs enough panels throughout the year, money which he has pledged to the project.

He said: “Having seen first hand what the country and people of Kenya were doing to help my sister to achieve her dream of competing in the Olympic Games, I wanted to reciprocate. Becky is already helping to build a new school, so for me to donate and install the panels seemed the perfect opportunity.

“We should get a 100 panels for the school, which is the equivalent of five large UK homes and would go a lot further in Africa.”