THE signs look good for a plastics manufacturer that claims its new product will save more than £3 million in energy and material costs for local authorities.

Barkston Plastics, based on the Wingates Industrial Estate, has developed a revolutionary new traffic sign which uses energy efficient, long lasting Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) to light an acrylic face.

This removes the need for external lamps, which consume 85 per cent more energy, and for expensive materials such as aluminium.

The LEDs will give each sign an estimated life expectancy of 20 years, or 100,000 hours of light, in comparison to normal light bulbs which only have an average life span of 1,000 hours.

The sign will be aimed at reducing costs for the traffic and highway departments of local councils.

Cities are currently facing bills in excess of £500,000 per year to replace signs, in addition to the average cost of £4 million pounds per year to maintain and power lamps.

The LEDs could yield an estimated average saving of £3 million per year.

Steve Rock, commercial director of Barkston, said: "We are delighted to be launching this new product as the current use of lamp lit aluminium signage is proving extremely costly to local authorities.

"We have created a durable, high visibility product which is both environmentally friendly and cost-effective."