Jersey tourist attractions turn lights off for Earth Hour

Environmental campaigner Francis Binney hopes enough people will take part in Earth Hour to allow stars to be seen in the St Helier night sky

Lights at a number of Jersey tourist attractions will be switched off for Earth Hour on Saturday, the environment department said.

Earth Hour is run by the World Wildlife Fund and encourages people to turn off their lights for one hour.

From 20:30 and 21:30 BST, lights on Victoria Avenue, Elizabeth Castle and Mont Orgueil Castle will be turned off.

Environment officer Olivia Copsey encouraged other people to take part and turn their lights off.

More than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries worldwide switched off their lights for Earth Hour 2011.

Ms Copsey said: "We can send a powerful message for action on climate change, and draw attention to the small ways that we can reduce our energy use every day."

Jersey environmental campaign group J-CAN said in 2011, about 70% of offices and shops in St Helier turned their lights off for Earth Hour.

Francis Binney, from the group, said "While we appreciate the need for security lighting in shop windows and some areas of offices, there is no need to keep all the lights blazing at night.

"As well as wasting electricity it causes a lot of urban light pollution. Who knows, if enough businesses take part in Earth Hour we might actually get a decent look at the stars from our most illuminated parish."