A council in the outer Hebrides has advised people to consider using ‘personal lighting’ after announcing it would switch off streetlights earlier.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, formerly the Western Isles Council, agreed that streetlights would switch off at 10pm in areas where they currently go off at 11pm in order to cut costs.
The change will be phased in over the summer throughout the Western Isles, first in Lewis and Harris by July and then in Uist and Barra by September.
Some rural lights on individual controls and areas with marine facilities will be exempt.
The council said: ‘The implementation of this policy may not be so noticeable over the summer; however the general public in affected areas should consider alternative means of personal lighting should they be walking around their communities after the re-scheduled switch off time.’
