Reduced street lighting plans have been agreed for Hadleigh and other parts of district to help combat the harmful affects on humans and wildlife.

Babergh along with neighbouring Mid Suffolk council, passed motions which pledged to reduce the intensity of outdoor lights in appropriate locations, or turn street lights off entirely where they are not wanted.

The motions also agree to add guidance into supplementary planning documents to guide housing developers on their lighting proposals in future planning applications.

It said that while recognising its role in helping people feel safe, any new or artificial lighting – including street lights, advertising boards or commercial or residential illumination – would be planned to meet the lowest possible level of intensity.

The debate comes at a time of heightened discussion around the impact of street lighting in protecting the public, in particular women and girls following the high profile kidnapping and murder of Sarah Everard in London earlier this year.

Independent councillor at Babergh, Trevor Cresswell, said: "I believe people who live in villages there should be a way they get home safely, and also where there is violence and people get attacked because it's dark, I do think we have got to have a balance so I do believe there should be lighting to a certain time of night."

Babergh voted 24 in favour with two abstaining.

Elisabeth Malvisi, cabinet member for climate change and biodiversity at Babergh, said: "Not only can it be controlled to reduce costs and our carbon footprint, but by installing the correct type of light we can protect our nocturnal wildlife."

Babergh Green group leader Leigh Jamieson said that reducing artificial light would benefit the whole of the districts.