Residents of a busy Wymondham road have won a victory after the county council decided to switch off their street lighting - for an entire year.

People living along Tuttles Lane which rings the north of the town have been left in the dark since the start of August when Norfolk County Council stopped turning on their street lights overnight.

But the council has now vowed to switch the lights back on in the face of community opposition.

Betty Thompson, 87, was among the residents protesting the lights-out, saying it made the road more dangerous for motorists and pedestrians alike. Mrs Thompson said she was pleased about the decision to turn the lights back on. She said: 'That's wonderful. It's given us back our freedom of movement.'

Mrs Thompson said she felt unsafe walking along the road after dark, and said the problem would have been a lot worse during the long winter nights.

She said: 'To face the winter compelled to stay in during the hours of darkness was a very daunting prospect. Even getting off the bus was hazardous'.

Another resident, Ros Krieger, said she was also concerned about the lights being off.

She said: 'From a pedestrian point of view, it's worrying. More people than you realise use this road. There are a lot of dog walkers, who have to bring their dogs out like it or not.'

Joe Mooney, county councillor for Wymondham and town mayor, said: 'After reviewing the responses received about the proposal to switch off the lights in Tuttles Lane, Wymondham, we've decided not to proceed with the proposal. It was clear that there was not sufficient local support for the proposal so the lights should be switched back on again by the end of the week.'

The council wanted to turn the lights off in a year-long trial to save money and reduce its carbon footprint.