STREET lights in Exeter will be switched off at night after a £1.7m scheme was approved by Devon county council.

Councillors voted to install remote monitoring technology that will turn off 12,000 lights as traffic and pedestrian levels reduce.

Lights that previously remained on from dusk until dawn will now switch off between 12.30am and 5.30am, but could be switched back on in an emergency. The scheme will act as a test for the entire county, with the council hoping to roll out a similar system across the entire county if the initiative proves successful.