Residents have reacted angrily to plans to turn off street lights at night in Wilmslow. A pilot project is underway in the town with lights being switched off between the hours of 11pm and 6am.

The two-month trial, covering 90 lampposts around Thorngrove Road, would save just £1,000 even if ran for a year, but town hall bosses say it is about cutting carbon emissions.

The scheme started on February 1 but was limited, with lights at junctions and remote footpaths left on.

However, it is being extended from March 1, with all the lights going out at night for a month.

Homeowners in the area say the move will make the area unsafe for drivers and pedestrians.

James McCall, 51, who lives on Thorngrove Road, said: "I am not happy about it at all.

"This road is full potholes and if you’re coming down the road at night and it’s pitch black, you won’t see them.

"And also there’s security. With the lights are out you can’t even see across the road, so bang goes the neighbourhood watch."

Joyce Irving, 87, said: "I don’t care for it at all. I don’t mind some of them being switched off but I wouldn’t like to see it completely black. It will make it unsafe as nobody will be able to see what’s going on."

Dan King, 64, said: "If it saves money it is worth a try, but if there are any accidents or incidents they will have to look at it again, as it may cost more in the long run."

However, local councillor and cabinet member for environmental services, Rod Menlove, claims the scheme is more about protecting the environment than cost cutting.

"The impact street lights in this area have on carbon emissions cannot be ignored. This trial will help us, as an authority, to look for new ways we can make substantial carbon emission reductions in the future.

"I must stress this is simply a trial. We are looking forward to feedback from residents. As a Thorngrove Road resident I will be part of the trial myself and experiencing it first hand."

It is estimated £240,000 could be saved if the plan was spread across the borough, but Coun Menlove said financial savings were just a bonus.

"Of course there are financial savings to be made. Any financial savings would be a bonus but it is carbon-saving and energy saving that are the key priorities."

But the council has earned the backing of space enthusiasts and bat conservationists.

Tim O’Brien, an astrophysicist at Manchester University, based at Jodrell Bank observatory, said: "We are supportive of the campaign for dark skies, as there are a number of wonderful things to see in our skies, such as the Milky Way."

Kelly Gunnell from the Bat Conservation Trust said: "Artificial night lighting is disturbing to many bat species including some of our rarest and most vulnerable bat species."