A scheme to save thousands of pounds in energy costs by dimming street lighting on some of Leicester's main roads is underway.

Leicester City Council has begun work on installing equipment which will dim street lights by 25% at night - resulting in a 52% cut in energy costs.

The equipment - which involves a small transformer in the street light columns - will be used to dim lights on the city's ring road and main arterial roads between 11pm and dawn.

The first 100 are being installed over the coming weeks, in Abbey Lane and Narborough Road North.

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In total, 2,200 of the devices will be installed over the next three months, with the initial work focusing on major roads rather than residential streets.

They are expected to cut energy costs by over £70,000 a year and cut CO2 production by almost 300 tonnes annually.

The scheme will cost £180,000 to set up, but the savings mean it will pay for itself within three years. The council has also been given £18,000 funding from the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Programme (REIP).

Leicester City Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Councillor Patrick Kitterick, said: "I am very pleased that we are able to introduce to Leicester this innovative scheme which will bring great environmental improvements at the same time as cutting energy costs.

"The reduction in brightness is very small, compared to a very significant saving in terms of our carbon footprint and energy use."

(CD/JM)