Czech authorities have appealed to the Polish ambassador in Prague following complaints about a vast new greenhouse that has been erected near Poland's border with the Czech Republic.

The hothouse, which is situated near the town of Bogatynia, south west Poland, spans 10 hectares and is run by the Citronex company for the purposes of growing tomatoes and cucumbers.

However, locals on the other side of the border claim the building emits light pollution, arguing that the construction violates a dark-sky reserve.

“We have never seen anything like that and we are honestly shocked by it,” astronomer Martin Gember told the Associated Press.

“It shines like a big city of 100,000 people,” he claimed.

Jacek Krzemiński, a spokesman for Poland's environment ministry said: "We will try to find a solution." (nh/pk)

Source: wprost.pl/AP