WHEN schoolboy George Wardley stared out of his bedroom window at the night sky he found The Plough was patchy, the Three Sisters were only two and comets came and went unnoticed.

Nine-year-old George just wanted to see the stars.

But an illuminated sign yards from his window was ruining his galactic view.

Now the Southampton schoolboy's wish has quashed a planning appeal after he and mum Karen complained that bright lights stopped him stargazing.

The Wardleys, from St James' Road, Shirley, wrote to Southampton City Council about the floodlit sign at neighbouring garage St James Motor Co.

Planners took a dim view of the situation and refused retrospective planning permission for the display.

Bosses at the garage, which has been in Shirley for over 20 years, went to appeal over the decision.

But an independent government inspector reinforced George's demand - that his astronomical outlook should not be compromised.

Now garage staff have a week to switch off the light and give the Shirley Junior School pupil back his view.

Karen Wardley said: "It was just that if you hear about a particular comet, or shooting stars, you like to be able to go outside and look at them - and with these lights from the garage, we couldn't.

"You just can't do it when there's so much light blocking out the night sky. It's a shame really. There's this horrible orange glow in the sky and you don't see any of the stars.

"George was disappointed because he was missing out on the night sky."

The young stargazer's actions have been greeted with glee by Southampton astronomers who have long been campaigning for a clear night sky.

Lilian Hobbs, from the Southampton Astronomical Society said: "It's brilliant. The sad thing now is we're bringing up a generation of children who think the Milky Way is a chocolate bar. It's just amazing what you miss in the sky these days.

"I'm very impressed George managed to do this. This has all been going on for years but people are starting to take notice of the night sky at last."

She said George could look forward to a night sky summer spectacular with Mars glowing at its brightest for years in July and August.

Barry Howe, director of St James Motor Co, said he was happy to accommodate his neighbour's demands.

He added: "Anything that anybody asked of us, we have complied with. We have gone along with everything in an appropriate neighbourly fashion and that's the truth."