A COMMUNITY has vow-ed to get its street lights switched back on after ‘heartbreaking’ compl- aints from residents.

Littlemoor has been plunged into darkness with residents concerned for their safety.

Many fear that with no lighting between midnight and 5.30am crime will increase on the estate.

Members of the community decided at a meeting to appeal to Dorset County Council to get their lights turned back on.

It comes after a council decision to reduce the budget for street lighting by 10 per cent.

So far, a total of 42,000 street lights have been turned off after midnight in residential areas across the county.

Gill Paterson, secretary of Littlemoor Community Action Group (LCAG), chaired the meeting at Littlemoor Comm-unity Centre.

She said: “We want to find out what locals feel and to try to get our opinion across.”

More than 25 people attended the meeting where it was agreed by the majority that a petition and a case would be developed.

Jan Hinton, chairman of the Littlemoor Synergy Housing Neighbourhood Panel, said: “It is completely heartbreaking.

“We have had elderly residents saying how frightened they are – it is just awful to think some of them can’t sleep at night and are having to leave their lights on.”

The action group have already received a petition signed by 150 frightened elderly women from Westham who want their lights back on.

Borough councillors Chris-tine James, Mark Tewkesbury and Rachel Rogers attended the meeting alongside county councillor Andy Cooke.

Coun Christine James, who represents Westham North, reminded the group that street light provision was not a statutory right.

County councillor Andy Cooke, representing Broad-wey, encouraged the group to come up with a plan of action.

When pressed by councillor Rachel Rogers, who represents Littlemoor, to take the case to the county council on their behalf, he said: “If you all make a good enough case and convince me, which I’m sure you will, I will present it on your behalf.”

Tony Alee, 69, who lives on Bincombe Rise in Littlemoor, said: “This estate is full of little back alleyways and with no lights, crime will be worse than it already is.”

Laurel Cockings, 21, whose street is also in darkness, said: “It’s pitch black. Even before the lights went out my rabbits got stolen and my dad’s car window got smashed so now it is going to be worse.”

Coun Cooke has agreed to pay a visit to the estate after 1am to understand concerns.

Louviers Road, Beverley Road and Littlemoor Road are the only access routes where street lights remain on.