Blackpool spends more on street lighting per person than almost anywhere else in country

Blackpool ranks 3rd in the top 10 areas with the most amount of money spent on street lights, equating to £43 per person - £5,937,000 overall - according to new research by Smart Lighting Industries.

Only London, at £88 per person, and Knowsley, at £47 per person, ranked higher. Other top 10 areas include South Tyneside, Derby, Newcastle, Leeds, Rochdale, Coventry and Walsall.

Julian Andruita, CEO at Smart Lighting Industries, said: "Council investment into street lighting is vital to the safety of residents, as brightly lit streets are essential to promoting security and reducing crime, as well as limiting the number of accidents for drivers, riders and pedestrians. Street lighting is also important in these dark winter months for artificially extending the hours in the day in which it is light to allow outdoor activity to take place. This has been exceptionally important over the last few months with lockdown resulting in the increase in outdoor evening exercise.”