SPARKS are flying in a West Devon village, where a resident claims street lighting is making a rural lane look like Paddington Station.
Linda Slade has boarded up the inside of the bedroom window at her 17th century cottage in Highampton, because she says the lights are keeping her awake at night.
But the parish council says it is responding to demand from people who use Church Road regularly to get to the local primary school, village hall and church.
Mrs Slade said: 'I have lived here for 13 years and most people move to the country to see the stars, not street lights.
'The light intrudes right into my bedroom window and apart from it being light pollution, motorway-style bright yellow street lights are totally out of keeping with a rural location like this.'
Mrs Slade said no-one was consulted over the installation of the lights.
And she said letters she had written to the parish council had not been replied to.
'Even if a time-clock could be fitted to the lights in order that there would be some respite after midnight it would help,' she added.
'It's like sleeping in Paddington Station.'
Charles Dumpleton, chairman of the parish council, said the lights were first requested more than 30 years ago and it was not until now that Devon County Council had found the funds to install them.
'Everybody else seems to be delighted except Mrs Slade,' he said.
'The last time we discussed it was at a public meeting, where villagers gave their views about what they wanted for the parish. Street lighting and pavements were the main concerns,' he said.
He added the lights were erected for safety reasons, because it was the main route to the village facilities.
'We have done this for the benefit of the whole community and you cannot always please everybody,' Mr Dumpleton added.