A MALVERN astronomer is playing a key role in a national campaign to stop light pollution blotting out views of the night sky.

Chris Baddiley, QinetiQ scientist and member of the British Astronomical Association (BAA), helped launch the Night Blight campaign by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) at Greenwich Observatory on Friday.

Dr Baddiley has been a member of the BAA's Campaign for Dark Skies committee for 10 years and has compiled a CD-ROM library containing many examples of good and wasteful lighting.

The CPRE is using some of the images in its campaign literature, alongside satellite photographs illustrating the spread of light pollution across the UK over the last decade.

Dr Baddiley is optimistic that with the CPRE's resources it will be able to accomplish more than the BAA has so far managed.

The organisation's figures show light pollution of the night sky increased by nearly a quarter between 1993 and 2000 in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, leaving few areas of total darkness where a view of the stars can be fully appreciated.

Dr Baddiley said the increase in light pollution had occurred over the last few years and can easily be countered by the use of lamps that shed light only where it is needed - down on the ground. He said that electric light pouring into the night sky was not only detrimental to stargazers, it was also a waste of resources.

However, he warned that change was likely to be gradual.

"Maybe we'll never see it," he said. "Maybe it'll be for our children. But it will happen."

More information on the CPRE's campaign, including measures that can be taken to prevent light pollution, can be viewed at www.cpre. org.uk or by calling 0800 163680.