STREET lights will be switched off overnight in northern and eastern parts of Dorset from the end of April in a bid to reduce energy costs.

Dorset County Council said that lights will be switched off between 1am and 6.30am British Summer Time, only coming back on if it is still dark.

It said that lights would be turned off only where there were no significant concerns over road safety or crime and 350 lamps would remain lit, including on main roads, in town centres and on roads with speed humps.

SSE Contracting has begun converting around 1,700 lights, which will take around four months.

Part-night lighting has been rolled out across Dorset since 2011 and is now operating on nearly all urban residential roads.

Deputy Chief Constable, James Vaughan, said: “We take the concerns of our communities very seriously and have worked together with our local authority partners in Dorset County Council to closely monitor the areas where street lights have been switched off in case of any changes in crime levels. I’m pleased to say that we have found there has been no link to an increase in crime, which I hope will offer some reassurance to residents.”

Details are available online at www.dorsetforyou.com/partnightlighting