MOCK Victorian street lanterns would create light pollution and turn Hutton Rudby into a tasteless theme park, some residents claim.

They say proposed gas-style lanterns are too high for the village green and fear light will shine into nearby bedrooms while shadows are cast on pavements.

In addition, they say reproduction gas lanterns are historically wrong for Hutton Rudby, because it never had any gas lamps. In fact, it did not have gas until 1992.

The lantern scheme has been put forward by Hambleton council and similar lights have been erected in the centre of Great Ayton.

At Hutton Rudby, the reproductions are proposed for North Side and South Side, Hutton Bank and part of Rudby. A second phase is being planned for Enterpen.

At the latest parish council meeting, a resident spoke against the lanterns on behalf of the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

Mr Roger Hole, of Enterpen, said: "The lights in Great Ayton look ridiculous. I think this plan should be looked at again. These lamps were put up in Sutton on the Forest and then taken down."

Coun Peter Markey read some comments from the council's village design statement, which highlights good local architecture and offers planning advice to residents, councillors and planners.

He said: "Street lamps should cause minimum skywards pollution and be mounted on slim, black posts. Lamp light can stray into bedrooms and disrupt sleep."

The meeting heard the ladder bar and lantern design of the proposed lights was obtrusive.

"Light is needed on footpaths but too many lights positioned too closely together can lead to urbanisation," Coun Markey emphasised.

There were dark or poorly lit pavements in outlying parts of the village, but this scheme was not seen as helpful.

Coun Ian Grieve had spoken to a planning officer who was happy to attend a parish council meeting to talk about the scheme. It was agreed to invite him.

Since the meeting, a resident of East Side has complained to the council about the scheme.

He pointed out that Hutton Rudby had homes from many periods and asked why only reproduction Victorian designs were being considered.