SIGNIFICANT areas of the country are being “plunged into darkness”, it has been claimed, as research reveals more than 2,000 streetlights in Bradford have been dimmed.

Across the country, more than 1.3 million street lights are being switched off or dimmed by councils trying to save money, research by the Labour Party shows.

In Bradford, while no streetlights are turned off, there are 2,049 which operate with reduced brightness – almost trebling since 2010. Labour claimed the squeeze on budgets coupled with high electricity prices were leading councils to turn off or dim almost a quarter of all lights, compared with under 3 per cent in May 2010.

Shadow communities and local government secretary Hilary Benn (pictured) said: “Significant areas of Britain have been plunged into darkness since May 2010 as a result of David Cameron and Eric Pickles’ policies.” Communities Minister Brandon Lewis said the research was “complete hypocrisy”.