STREET lights in Hatherleigh could be switched off late at night as part of Devon County Council's plans to save money and cut carbon emissions.

The proposal will see residential street lights switched off between 12.30am and 5.30am.

Hatherleigh Parish Council has been contacted, and plans were put up in the community centre for local residents to see.

No dates have yet been set for the changes.

The lights along the A386 and at the roundabout with the Highampton road will remain on all night.

Town councillor Gary Bush said: 'We proposed that the street light by the bank stayed on all the time, as well as those up Bridge Street through to the square.

'We suggested perhaps alternative ones could be switched off or dimmed.'

A Devon County Council spokesman said: 'The programme of conversions has already been completed in many Devon communities and almost 18,000 street lights in Devon have been converted to part-night lighting over the past 12 months, which is expected to have saved more than 300 tonnes of Co2 and around £46,000 in electricity costs.

'The impact of the change has been monitored, and overall the project has been very successful.

'Fears of increased levels of night crime have not materialised, with the police reporting more than 10% reductions in crime levels in some areas after the introduction of part-night lighting.'

Over the next three years, it is estimated that part-night lighting could save Devon 4,000 tonnes of Co2 and reduce energy bills by £450,000.

Devon County Council said part-night lighting for Okehampton 'will not be looked at until the new financial year's programme is scheduled'.