THE South Downs National Park has applied for International Dark Skies Reserve status.

Ranger Dan Oakley and volunteers submitted the application. He has also made a short film about the bid which can be seen on youtube – search for “Dark-Skies Dan”.

A South Downs National Park Authority spokesman said: “Unlike other places we can’t simply draw a line around an area with no houses or roads.

“Dan has had to go out at night and take hundreds of measurements to work out the area which deserves protection.

“But protecting night skies right in the middle of the most populous part of the country would also mean giving many more people access to joys like seeing the Milky Way for the first time.”

The SDNPA is due to hear back from the International Dark-Sky Association in March.