The planned switch-off of almost 6,000 street lights in Norwich has edged a step closer – after final letters were sent to families living where the lamps are earmarked to go out.

Norfolk County Council wants to turn out 27,000 lights across the county between midnight and 5am, with about 5,900 in Norwich due to be switched off.

This week 12,500 letters were sent to people in the west of the city giving them one final chance to make the case for the lights not to be switched off between midnight and 5am (1am and 6am in British Summer Time).

Already this year, letters have been sent to people in the north, east and south of the city.

Council bosses, who need to save �155m over the next three years, say the part night-time switch-off would save �167,000 and cut carbon emissions.

They say consultation has already been carried out with police on exempting some lights from the change.

Reasons for exemption included streets with CCTV cameras, traffic-calming measures, roads with high traffic flow and those where police say crime could be increased as a result, or where reducing crime will be affected.

That consultation saw a decision made to spare about 1,000 street lights within the inner ring road from being turned off.

But the streets on the lists are due to be switched off unless people can come up with a valid reason why they should stay on.

People in the west of Norwich have until Friday, June 17 to respond to make the case for why their lights should stay on.

Lights have already been switched off in other parts of the county, including in Wymondham and Hethersett.

Norfolk police say there has been no noticeable increase in crime in those areas.

But critics have said Norwich is not comparable with market towns and turning off the lights in the city could lead to increased crime, or fear of crime.

People in Norwich can tell the county council what they think by filling in a form online at https://online.norfolk.gov.uk/partnightlighting or by calling 0344 800 8010.

• What do you think of the proposals to switch off the street lights after midnight? Write to Evening News Letters, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE or email eveningnewsletters@archant.co.uk