Lampposts controlled by mobile phone

Small towns in Germany are cutting back on their energy bills by switching off street lights at 9pm.

Local residents can turn on the lights later, if needed, using their mobile phone.

Dial4Light enables residents to light up any street for 15 minutes by making a simple phone call and entering an access code.

Codes are listed online, and displayed on street lamps

Residents pay for the phone call, whilst the town council provides the lighting.

Saving money, rather than being eco-friendly, is the primary motive behind the initiative, although the environmental benefits are obvious.

The small town of Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz, which has just 900 residents, saves €4,000 per year using the system, a 25% reduction on their energy bill for street lights.

Some towns are now considering pay to use systems where 60 minutes of light will cost €3.50.