A SOLAR-POWERED cat's eye is making night driving safer for motorists.

Durham County Council is the first highway authority in the country to use the multi-coloured markers on dangerous roads.

Unlike the traditional cat's eye, which reflects light which shines on it, the new eyes are self-illuminating and are visible a long way ahead of a car's headlight range. Miniature solar panels made by Reflecto, of York, soak up and store enough electrical energy during the day to shine through the night and show drivers where the road leads.

So far they have been installed on the A177 Bishop Middleham to Fishburn crossroads; the A181 east of Wheatley Hill; the A688 Green Lane, Spennymoor; the B6532 junction at the bottom of Congburn Bank; the B6532 at Findon Hill, Sacriston; the C17 Bearpark Bridge, and the A689 Newton Cap to Toronto Road.

Chris Tunstall, director of environment and technical services, said: "They are self-illuminating, so motorists approaching them at night will be able to see the direction the road takes well in advance of it being lit up by their headlights."