Town to turn off lights for Dark Skies event

Jonny Manning
BBC News, North East and Cumbria
Getty Images A landscape photograph of a lake in the Lake District. Mountains and hills surrounding the lake are reflected in its water. The sky is filled with bright stars which are also mirrored in the water.Getty Images
With lights turned off many more stars can be seen in the night sky

A rural town is planning to turn its lights off to showcase the beauty of the night sky.

The Big Switch Off is taking place in Keswick's Crow Park, in the Lake District, from 21:30 BST until midnight.

The Dark Skies event aims to make more stars visible to the naked eye by reducing the amount of light emitted in an area.

The event is being led by the Friends of the Lake District which urged people to "come down and take part".

"Bring your own binoculars and telescopes if you have any, and learn from our expert astronomers," the group said.

About 70 streetlamps will be switched off overnight around Lake Road, Hope Park, Crow Park, and The Headlands.

Signs will be put up to warn drivers about the lack of street lighting.

Cumberland Council is also encouraging residents and businesses to take part by turning off their own lights to enjoy the stargazing.

The Big Switch Off is a joint initiative led by the Friends of the Lake District, The National Trust, Keswick Town Council, Keswick Tourism Association and the Cockermouth Astronomical Society.

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