Eighty street lights in Telford are being left on 24 hours a day – just days after it was revealed some main roads could be blacked out at night to save cash and help the environment.

Pensioner Eric Lewis branded Telford & Wrekin Council hypocritical for taking no action to turn the lights off during the day in Lawley Village despite him lodging three complaints in the last 21 days.

He said the lights – from the M54 island down to Lawley traffic lights, up to Dawley Bank and in the opposite direction to Lawley Church – had been left on for three weeks.

But Telford & Wrekin Council insisted the street lights remaining on would not cost taxpayers any money. The authority is currently proposing switching off 1,350 street lights on six A-roads in the borough from midnight to 5.30am. A decision is due to be made in March.

It claims the move would result in a saving of £76,000-a-year from the authority’s £1 million lighting budget.

But Mr Lewis said: “I could not believe it when I read of the plans to switch off all those street lights. I find it very hypocritical that they can talk of reducing the carbon footprint and saving money and yet take no action at all with regard to these lights at Lawley Village.”

Councillor Adrian Lawrence, council cabinet member for environment and rural area, said it will not cost the council any extra money.

The roads being considered for the big switch-off include the A442 Eastern Primary, A4169 Ironbridge bypass, A464 Hollinswood Interchange, A5223 Wellington Road in Oakengates, A518 Newport to Stafford Road and the A5.