NEW interactive maps of England’s light pollution and dark skies, released by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), show that Hampshire is ranked the 23rd darkest out of 41 counties.

The ‘Night Blight’ maps, produced using satellite images captured at 1.30am throughout September 2015, offer the most detailed ever picture of the country’s light pollution and dark skies.

At district level, East Hampshire, Winchester District and the Test Valley enjoy the darkest skies in the county, and are in the top 20 per cent of England’s darkest districts. While some of the most light-polluted areas in Hampshire include Portsmouth, Southampton and Rushmoor.

Nicola Revolta, a CPRE Hampshire spokesman, said: “What immediately strikes you from the map of Hampshire is the concentrated light pollution across south Hampshire.

“CPRE Hampshire is campaigning for a green belt for south Hampshire. A green belt would assist with urban regeneration and prevent unnecessary sprawling of large built-up areas into unspoiled countryside, resulting in more light pollution and wasting energy and money.”

CPRE’s research comes at a time of increasing awareness of the harmful effects light pollution can have on the health of people and wildlife. That these skies were monitored at 1.30am illustrates just how long into the night England’s lighting spills.

Emma Marrington, senior rural policy campaigner at CPRE, said: “Our view of the stars is obscured by artificial light. Many children in urban areas may not have seen the Milky Way, our own galaxy, due to the veil of light that spreads across their night skies.

“Our Night Blight maps also show where people can expect to find a truly dark, starry sky. The benefits of dark skies, for health, education and tourism, are now being recognised, with areas such as the South Downs National Park receiving International Dark Skies Reserve status. Dark skies are a key characteristic of what makes the countryside so different from urban areas.”

The new maps were produced by land use consultants from data gathered by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration in America. The administration’s satellite captured visible and infrared imagery to determine the levels of light spilling up into British skies.

CPRE is calling on councils, developers and organisations to use these maps to identify areas with severe light pollution and target action to reduce it, as well as identifying existing dark skies that need protecting. The maps, which anyone can access, can help shape future developments in an area and inform decisions on planning applications and lighting schemes.

It is also sending lesson plans to primary schools in order to promote the enjoyment of dark skies.

To view the maps, visit nightblight.cpre.org.uk.