TWINKLE twinkle, little star, how I wonder... where you've gone. Residents of a quiet Gwent cul-de-sac demanded their stars back after newly switched-on street lamps dimmed their view of the night sky.

People living in the five houses and three barn conversions which make up De Clere Way in Trellech, Monmouthshire, wanted the 11 mock-Victorian lamps shaded or extinguished.

They said the orange glare disturbed their sleep and also caused light pollution, meaning they can no longer see the stars.

And now Monmouthshire county council has agreed to place "screening plates" over the lights to reduce the glare.

Helen Hale, 37, lives with her computer consultant husband, Scott, and their three children, Daisy, aged four, Peaches, two, and eight-month-old Boris.

She said: "At night this is literally lit up like a football stadium. "Rather than just downward light on to the highway, these are four clear glass panels with a bright light in the middle."

Mrs Hale said she used to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to her children at bedtime, while they gazed at the galaxy, but added: "Now we have to close the curtains because it's so bright."

She added it was a waste of money lighting the street when the residents who are supposed to benefit preferred the dark.

Retired engineer Peter Powis, 74, and his wife, Ann, moved to De Clere Way four years ago.

They and 17 other residents signed a petition condemning the "obtrusiveness of the light trespass".

"We have all come to live in a small, country village and enjoy the view of the night sky," said Mr Powis. "The lights are offensively bright."

He said they were looking forward to a return to dark skies and natural lighting, in keeping with an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Mr Powis said there have never been any problems with safety or security since they moved to the neighbourhood, and that the council should recognise the difference in demand for lighting between urban and rural areas.

He said: "We don't want to be lit up like a town and we aren't affected by high crime rates."

Local councillor Ashley Thomas said: "The level of lighting is overkill. This is another example of the urbanisation of rural areas."

A council spokesman said: "Our highways department checked the illumination levels. Although they are standard level, they will be putting screening plates on some of the lights. The work should happen within the next month."