An Oxford climate change campaigner wants the Government to take unilateral action to ban power-hungry light bulbs within five years.

Ministers are pressing the European Commission to make the switch to energy-saving bulbs "a priority".

They are also in talks with retailers and manufacturers to remove "inefficient" lighting products from UK shelves in advance of regulations.

But environmental consultant Matt Prescott, who leads the Ban the Bulb campaign, is urging the Government to take unilateral action and bring in the ban in the next five years, with or without Europe-wide agreement.

Dr Prescott, 34, who completed a PhD in Ecology this year, said waiting for Europe was a way of delaying action.

He added: "The Government is admitting it's a good idea to ban incandescent light bulbs, but they don't want to be seen as interfering in people's lives.

"If we can't change our light bulbs, how are we going to save the planet?"

Dr Prescott said the UK could start by reducing VAT on energy-saving light bulbs from 17.5 per cent to five per cent.

The energy-efficient bulbs use 70 per cent less electricity than conventional ones and each one can save £130 on household utility bills over their 12-year average lifespan, according to Dr Prescott.

There are 55 different types of energy-saving light bulbs, but at about £8 each, they are much more expensive than traditional bulbs.

Ban the Bulb has won backing of Oxfordshire MPs Evan Harris and Ed Vaizey.

Dr Harris, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, tabled a Parliamentary motion in support of the campaign earlier this year.

The motion has been signed by 42 MPs, including Mr Vaizey, the Tory MP for Wantage.

The Government's position on the light bulb issue was set out last Wednesday in a House of Commons Written Answer.

Environment Minister Ian Pearson said: "Our current assessment is that, by removing ordinary incandescent light bulbs from the UK market and encouraging sales of the most efficient alternatives, we could avoid approximately one million tonnes of carbon emissions per year by 2020."