NEW street lights in a quiet Malvern cul-desac have lit up people’s homes “like a football stadium”, according to residents.

People living in Hall Green Close have complained to Worcestershire County Council about the streetlamps, which they say are more suited to the motorway than their small road.

They believe they are particularly inappropriate because their road is a semi-rural location and backs on to fields.

The LED lights were installed in November 2011, replacing the 1950sstyle concrete pillars, which have orange lights.

Although neighbours received a letter of notification, they say they were not asked if they wanted the lights.

Anthony Skelsey said: “It’s white, glaring light.

They’ve increased the height of the columns so they get a bigger spread.

“It seems so inappropriate for our road to be lit up like a football stadium.

“There are fields on the east side and fields on the north. It’s a very quiet place and to be like that is something of a shock.

“The first night they were lit it was amazing. It’s so intrusive.”

Mr Skelsey said he was even more puzzled by the lamps, which he believes are double the height of the old ones, after reading that councillors were considering plans to dim lights or turn them off overnight. He said: “These are 24 hours.

We need black-out curtains.”

Neighbour David Masters said: “To instal what I would describe as floodlights is unacceptable.

“They are high up and unnecessarily light up my back garden. It looks like we’ve left an outside light on. I just think it’s a waste of public money.”

Both men say the council initially said they would try to blinker the lights or dim them but no action has been taken.

They are also puzzled as to why the lights have only been replaced in their culde- sac and not over the rest of the estate.

Derek Powell, principal project engineer for lighting at Worcestershire County Council, said a shield was fitted on to one lamp this week.

“In order to meet national standards, essential maintenance work was carried out on streetlights in Hall Green Close,” he said.

“Following the work we received negative feedback about one lamp in particular. We acted swiftly to work with residents and have since employed a contractor to fit a shield on to the lamp. We will always endeavour to work closely with residents to resolve any concerns.”