THOUSANDS of smart lampposts could soon provide high-speed Internet access across Hampshire, while at the same time spying on crime-hit communities.

Hi-tech cameras could be attached to new lampposts in trouble hotspots and footage beamed to surveillance centres.

In rural areas the streetlights could be dimmed or switched off under controversial blackout plans to cut energy bills and the county's carbon footprint.

The ideas will all be considered after the Government this week announced £225m is to be spent on replacing 165,000 old lampposts in Southampton, Hampshire and West Sussex.

Funding for Hampshire's new lampposts has been secured under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) agreement, where a private company will design, build, finance and operate the lighting on behalf of the three councils. Six private companies have already begun bidding for the lucrative contract.

The county's transport chiefs yesterday said they would leave it to the bidders to recommend whether Wi-Fi, CCTV or even solar power technology could be utilised.

Hampshire County Council spokesman Sarette Martin said: "We will specify appropriate lighting levels for all areas and invite bidders to suggest new and innovative technologies to reduce energy consumption and the carbon footprint within an overall budget.

"We are not specifying Wi-Fi or CCTV but leaving it open to bidders to put forward their proposals."

The new energy efficient lampposts will shine white light in Hampshire's streets and be directed down on to footpaths and roads, resulting in less light pollution in the night sky. It is hoped better lighting will reduce crime and boost the county's night-time economy.

However, dark streets currently without streetlights are to remain unlit.

In other parts of the country such technology is in use, such as in Norwich where residents and workers with wireless enabled laptops, personal digital assistants (PDA) and mobile phones are able to tap into the city's internet network for free via tiny antenna on lampposts.

Southampton City Council also hopes to create widespread wireless Internet coverage - known as Wi-Fi zones - across the city and the installation of new lampposts is seen as an opportunity to introduce the technology.

In other parts of the country, councils have equipped their lampposts with talking CCTV to help crack crime.

In Penhill, Wiltshire, control centre operators can call out warnings to troublemakers by using microphones inside state-of-the-art mobile cameras.

Human rights group Liberty blasted the scheme as a gimmick and said the money would be better spent on more police officers.