STREET lights in parts of West Dorset are to be switched off overnight to save energy and money.

As part of Dorset County Council's programme to reduce energy costs, lamps will be switched off between midnight and 5.30am in parts of West Dorset. The changes will start next month and take around three months to complete.

Around 400 street lights along main roads and areas where there are obstructions such a speed bumps will remain lit.

Cllr Rebecca Knox, who represents Beaminster on Dorset County Council believes most people will be in favour of the switch-off and that it will bring huge benefits to taxpayers.

"The savings it will bring in energy reduction are substantial and our carbon footprint will be significantly reduced" she said.

"It will also bring about significant savings for the council, and therefore taxpayers.

"I think the world has changed and we do have to look at everything that we can do here in Dorset to play our part and look after our world. Some people will also like having dark skies back in rural areas, and will again be able to appreciate the beauty of the countryside."

Villages and towns included in this phase of the switch off include Beaminster, Broadwindsor, Cattistock, Chideock, Drimpton, Frampton, Holwell, Lyme Regis, Maiden Newton, Melcombe Bingham, Mosterton, Portesham, Salway Ash, Shipton Gorge, Thorncombe, Toller Porcorum, Uploaders and Winterborne Abbas.

Last year Dorset Police investigated claims that crime and anti-social behaviour had risen following the switch-off, instead finding that there had been no increase in the areas where the lights had been turned off.

Some safety concerns had been raised - but Cllr Knox is confident residents will welcome the changes.

"It is not a blanket switch-off" she said. "Looking at other areas of Dorset, I would say the majority of residents have been happy or noticed no difference with their streetlights being switched off.

"I think it is important we start off by being positive and seeing how it goes, and hopefully any issued that arise can be addressed.

"In places where police have had concerns over safety and anti-social behaviour, there have been opportunities to highlight pockets where the lights should be left on."

Part-night lighting has been rolling out across the county since 2011. It is operational on all urban residential roads and most rural ones.