HAMPSHIRE council chiefs are backing today’s global one-hour switch off by plunging their buildings into darkness.

The county council is backing the World Wildlife Fund’s Global Earth Hour by switching off lights at 11 of its buildings including The Great Hall, Ashburton Court East and the Elizabeth II courtyard.

The council will be joining homes and businesses, including the Daily Echo, across the globe in switching off all non-essential lights and appliances between 8.30pm and 9.30pm in a bid to cut carbon emissions.

Some 1,500 cities from 80 countries have already signed up and it’s hoped as many as one billion people will take part.

Council leader Ken Thornber, said: “All of Hampshire has a responsibility to protect the planet for future generations and that is why we are giving our backing to Global Earth Hour.

“Helping to cut greenhouse gases and reducing the carbon footprint is one of the council’s main priorities and we have been addressing the issue for about a decade, becoming one of the first councils in the UK to commit to reducing climate change.”



To sign up to WWF’s Earth Hour, please text “earth” to 84880 or visit wwf.org.uk/earthhour.



CLOCKS GO FORWARD TONIGHT - ONE HOUR AT 2AM