THEY have been the topic of much debate around Taunton - and here they are in action.

The five floodlights at Somerset County Cricket Club's Cooper Associates County Ground have been trialled this evening (Monday), lighting up the pitch as well as the surrounding areas.

WATCH: The lights in action at the Cooper Associates County Ground

The 54-metre structures are visible around the town and will continue to be tested in the run-up to the first competitive match to make use of them, which is Somerset's Royal London One-Day Cup match against Essex on April 26.

The lights will also be used for the ICC Cricket World Cup match between Afghanistan and New Zealand on June 8.

Somerset chief executive Andrew Cornish has said the project is about "much more than just the cricket club", outlining the boost he feels the local economy will receive as a result of later starts to T20 matches.

The club are limited to how much they can use the lights - up to 26 occasions in the first year to allow for testing, then 17 times a year thereafter.