Scores of concerned villagers turned out to call for safety lighting to be put in at a new roundabout and launched a petition that has already collected more than 100 signatures.

Scores of concerned villagers turned out to call for safety lighting to be put in at a new roundabout and launched a petition that has already collected more than 100 signatures.

Norfolk County Council has decided not to install lighting at the �1.5m roundabout on the A140 at Pulham Market which is due for completion in March.

It is being built to replace the notorious blackspot of Pulham Crossroads but parish council member Roger Pascall said that good news has been negated by the decision to leave it in the dark.

'The rally went very well. Everyone is delighted with the Norfolk County Council decision to put a new roundabout in which is a step forward as far as safety is concerned but the decision not to light it is a step back by the same distance.

'It seems the decision has been based purely on financial reasons and we appreciate everything needs to be costed but it is a very fine balance.

'The council know the projected figures over the next 30 years and the cost of recovering these and the cost of putting in lights are fairly evenly balanced.'

Mr Pascall said down lighting could be introduced which would mean less light pollution. He said there was still hope that the council would make a last minute u-turn on the decision.

Ann Ford, Pulham Market Parish Council vice-chairman, said there was up to 100 people at the rally on Saturday and that a petition launched then had collected 130 signatures.

She said it would now be left in the village shop and pub for a week before being presented to the county council.

A spokesman for the county council has previously said that safety audits are always carried out once a road becomes operational and there is the possibility of adding lighting, if considered necessary, at a later date.