Organisers of an environmental campaign are hoping homes and businesses will turn out their lights for one hour to show their commitment towards fighting climate change.

Earth Hour will see 24 cities across the globe turn off their lights to show their commitment to the fight against climate change.

In Northampton, the campaign is being promoted as Lights Out by Northants 96, and so far businesses including the Royal & Derngate theatres and the Chronicle & Echo have pledged to turn out their non-essential lights to show their support.

Chronicle & Echo editor David Summers said he was pleased the company was taking part.

"As a newspaper at the heart of the community it is important for us to show our support for Earth Hour. Climate change is a very real issue and it is important we all show our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint," he said.

Northants 96 breakfast presenters Jagger & Woody said: "It is our ambition to make this global event have real impact locally. Being green can sometimes feel like hard work but there is some very simple stuff that we can do that really makes a difference and our lights will be going off on the 29th."

A Royal & Derngate spokeswoman added as the theatres could not really run in the dark, a symbolic switching off of some lights would take place, but said the company was working hard to cut down on its green footprint.

She said: "The organisation is currently going through a rolling process of changing all 50 watt diochroic GU10 lights to 3 watt LED technology.

"This new technology gives out the same colour spectrum and light output but with a huge decrease in energy used."

To take part in Lights Out turn your lights off on Saturday, March 29, at 8pm for one hour.

To find out more log on to www.northants96.co.uk or www.earthhour.org