MORE than 35,000 street lights will be installed throughout Sunderland and neighbouring towns and villages.

The city council has signed a 25-year £163m private finance initiative contract with Balfour Beatty.

Under the agreement, 70 per cent of the area's lights will be replaced, and new ones put up, over the next five years.

Work could start next month and Easington Lane and East Rainton are among the priority areas.

The council said that the scheme will replace the lampposts which are most at risk of structural failure, improve road safety, help to reduce crime and the fear of crime and encourage more people to walk or take the bus at night.

Councillor Ian Galbraith, cabinet member for the environment, said: "Surveys of residents consistently tell us that after refuse collection, street lighting is the second most important service that we provide as a council.

"This is backed up by the number of requests for improvements we get from both members of the public and businesses who are concerned about crime.''

The company will also be responsible for road signs and 3,500 will be upgraded in the first five years.