The clocks could be changed to make evenings lighter as a way of boosting Sussex tourism under a future Tory government.

The Conservatives have promised to consider the radical move as part of a review of their tourism policy ahead of the next General Election.

Shadow Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that while Sussex had done well out of tourism, he was sure the county could do "a lot more".

He told The Argus that moving the clocks forward an hour all year round would mean "longer days for tourism attractions, longer tourist seasons, and could mean a huge boost in visitors to Sussex".

The need for less light in the evenings would also have a positive environmental impact by reducing carbon emissions.

Under the changes, winter would be one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and summer time would be two hours ahead, meaning it would get lighter an hour later in the morning and darker an hour later in the evening.

Mr Hunt said any decision would be subject to public consultation and would be tested before being made permanent.

A similar trial took place in the late Sixties, when the UK remained on British Summer Time all year round, but was shelved after opposition from Scottish farmers and road safety campaigners, who were concerned about the darker mornings.

Mr Hunt, who will launch his policy review today on the first day of British Tourism Week, said he believed there was now an emerging consensus in favour of changing the clocks.

The National Farmers' Union had relaxed its objections, Scotland was "less violently opposed" to change, and recent evidence suggested the move would save a "significant"

number of lives as lighter evenings increased visibility.

Several Sussex MPs have already indicated their support for changing the clocks, including Des Turner (Brighton Kemptown), Andrew Tyrie (Chichester), Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) and Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne).

VisitBritain said the changes could provide "a potential boost to the visitor economy".

A spokesman said: "Lighter evenings would extend the time for visitors to be active outdoors and support other businesses that rely on these visitors for their trade.

"The extra hour of daylight in the evenings would encourage more people to take advantage of tourist attractions across Britain all year round."

Mr Hunt said: "If Brighton and Hove attracts more tourists it will cost the city council money, because there are more bins to empty and more streets to clean.

"We need to look at whether we need more incentives."

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