Halogen bulbs to be phased out and replaced with LED versions

They will now no longer be manufactured, and from 2018 can no longer be sold.

The move has come from a European Union directive which seeks to reduce energy consumption by scrapping the power-guzzling halogen bulbs which come in at around 50W each, as opposed to 3W or 5W for their LED equivalents.

This follows on from the withdrawal and subsequent ban on incandescent bulbs which began in 2009 and led to their disappearing entirely from households in the 28 member States of the EU after being taken off the shelves in 2012.

First to go were 100W bulbs, and 75W bulbs followed, having been around for 130 years.

These energy-wasting fixtures not only used up huge amounts of power, but converted it into heat as well as light, meaning bulbs would literally melt anything they pointed at eventually.

LED bulbs, which now come in many shapes and sizes and can easily be used to replace halogen ceiling spotlights, last up to 30,000 hours – three times that of a standard lightbulb – and are often even brighter.

Although they are more expensive to buy, the amount they save on electricity still means they cost less long-term.

According to the European Commission, replacing all 'standard' lightbulbs, including the now-disappearing halogen bulbs, with LED versions saves the average household in the EU a total of €115 per bulb from the time it is fitted to the moment it needs to be replaced.

Yet halogen bulbs only last 2,000 hours, and drink around 10 times as much electricity.