ENVIRONMENTAL experts are to explore ways of slashing carbon emissions from Oxfordshire's street lights in a drive to reduce the county's so-called 'footprint'.

Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases responsible for climate change and 'footprinting' is a way of measuring how much carbon individuals emit.

Figures just obtained reveal that antiquated and unnecessary street lights, traffic lights and illuminated signs across the county costs Oxfordshire County Council £3.8m a year to run and maintain - and make-up nearly 20 per cent of its total carbon emissions.

Experts think one of the ways the council could cut its emissions is by turning off unnecessary lights and switching from old-style filament bulbs to eco-friendly long-life lights.

The drive towards slashing carbon emissions across the county forms the basis of County Hall's Carbon Management Plan - an action plan detailing how carbon savings could be achieved - set to be launched next month.

And it comes after a recent vote where Oxford City Council unanimously agreed to explore the possibility of turning off street lights between midnight and 5am.

County Hall is responsible for maintaining: 57,992 street lights 3,909 illuminated traffic signs 2,835 illuminated boards 171 zebra beacons 166 flashing lights outside schools 74 mains-operated vehicle activated signs County Hall has already set itself a target of switching off lights in 100 street signs a year, where regulations permit, to save money.

Now, the Tory-run county council has pledged £450,000 over five years to help reduce its carbon emissions in an effort to become a "green" council. A county council spokesman said: "County Hall has pledged to reduce carbon emissions from its own buildings and activities by 2012, a commitment that has attracted a further £300,000 from the Carbon Trust."

All projects funded will need to demonstrate carbon savings and "significant financial savings" for the council over the next five years.