New cat’s eyes that remain lit throughout the night even when a car is not passing are beginning to be installed on London’s roads.

Hillingdon Council has installed 300 of the new solar powered eyes to help provide drivers with a clear view of the road ahead.

The self-illuminating lights are powered by miniature solar panels, which soak-up and store enough energy during daylight hours to glow throughout the night.

Mary Worrall, Head of highways, said: "It is not always suitable to use street lights in some of the rural roads we have in Hillingdon.”

The cat's eyes are being funded by the council’s road safety programme costing around £27,000 to install.

The new lights will save the council thousands of pounds a year by eliminating yearly maintenance and energy costs.

The new cat's eyes have already been trialled for a year to test their effectiveness and will be installed in other areas during 2008.