Be switched on by switching off - is the message being sent out to all Liverpool residents.

The city council is one of the latest in the UK to sign up to Earth Hour to highlight the importance of climate change.

The special event arranged by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) asks people to switch off any unnecessary lights for one hour at 8.30pm on Saturday 28 March.

By turning off lights, people will be showing they care about the environment and want to protect the planet and wildlife.

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Liverpool City Council's Executive Member for the environment, Councillor Berni Turner, said: "Earth Hour is all about sending out a powerful message about the amount of energy we needlessly waste.

"We're asking everyone in Liverpool to pledge their support and switch off all non-essential lights for just one hour. It is really simple and if everyone continues to work together to reduce energy waste, it really will make a huge difference.

"To mark Liverpool's Year of the Environment we are asking people to do something green, and it can be as simple as turning off lights when you leave a room or making sure your TV isn't left on standby.

"Taking part in Earth Hour is something we can all do and I hope as many people as possible take part to make the event a huge success."

The aim is for one billion people world-wide to take part in the environmental initiative, and so far 1,181 cities in 80 countries have signed up including Hong Kong, Istanbul, Mexico City and Las Vegas.

(CD/JM)