DEVON County Council has decided to try dimming residential streetlights by 60 per cent across the county to save money.

The year-long trial will start “early in the next financial year”. It will not apply to streetlights on main roads.

In market towns like Crediton, residential streetlights will be dimmed to 40 per cent of their output from 8.30pm to 12am, then switched off until 5.30am, and switched back on to 40 per cent again from 5.30am to 6.30am.

Rural areas will see residential streetlights dimmed to 40 per cent from 7pm to 12am, switched off until 5.30am, with 40 per cent output again from 5.30am to 6.30am.

The trial follows a pilot earlier this year in Abbotskerswell, Holcombe Rogus, Kingskerswell and Sidmouth.