THERE'S nothing like a bright idea to save money . . . and on the face of it, dimming street lamps sounds nothing like a bright idea.

But council chiefs have been told they could save an estimated £7,000 a year if just 1,000 street lights did not operate at full power.

And Tameside has no fewer than 25,000 of them across the borough.

The authority's energy panel, chaired by council leader Roy Oldham, hopes to make savings because of reduced maintenance and lower energy costs thanks to new hi-tech lighting.

Tameside was the first council in the country to install the latest `lanterns' with electronic control gear, and previously they have operated at full capacity.

The new lights are said to be easier to monitor online and the idea of dimming them was first tested on the `Royals' estate off Yew Tree Lane in Dukinfield.

There were problems due to difficulties adjusting the lighting levels, but for some months now, 1,000 street lights in areas such as Ashton, Dukinfield and Denton have been operating below full capacity.

Questionnaires have been sent to homes and the feedback is now being analysed for the energy panel.

A `risk management' report is also looking at public safety issues.

The Living Streets charity said good lighting is essential to reduce crime and the fear of crime - and Coun John Bell, leader of Tameside's Conservative group, said: "I understand the need to seek value for money, but you have guard against issues such as community safety. I would not like to see crime soar - it is absolutely imperative we have good street lighting."

The council's Paul Jennings said: "It is critical that we do not drop the lighting levels and most people probably will not notice the difference. So far, we have had one complaint - from someone who said the light no longer lights up his garden, which he liked."

The lights are operating at 90 per cent capacity for the experiment, which the council said is `well within the parameters of energy reduction'.