Plans to remove up to 20 streetlights from outside a busy factory car park, which councillors argued could put lives at risk, have been dropped.

Norfolk County Council had planned to switch off the lights near Cranswick in Brandon Road, Watton in a move to save energy.

Town councillors and county and district councillor for Watton, Claire Bowes, strongly objected to the proposal, which some said could increase the chance of nighttime accidents along the busy road and put the safety of Cranswick employees at risk.

However, the county council has now said it will not go ahead with the planned de-illumination.

Ms Bowes said: 'I strongly objected to the proposal on the basis that it constituted removing infrastructure in an area of the town combining industrial and residential areas, high employee footfall along the road and a large amount of HGV movements.

'I am very pleased that local members' and residents views have been listened to and acted upon.'

The factory, which fronts the B1108, is a large employer in the town, with shift workers using its car park through the day and night.

Proposals had been put forward by the company for a pedestrian crossing on the road to help its employees reach the car park should the streetlights be lost, an idea which town councillors had supported.