It will be illegal to make or import 100 watt - or more powerful - traditional light bulbs into the UK from Tuesday 1st September 2009.

Under new EU rules, all 100 watt and frosted bulbs will be banned in favour of the energy-saving variety.

An instant, bright, incandescent light - for decades the way we have lit our homes. The softer glow of a new energy efficient bulb - this is what the Government wants us all to use in future.

A report on BBC news featured shopkeeper Lesley Urrutia and showed her restocking her store to keep up with demand. From her shop in Cardiff Market, she is selling boxloads of traditional 150 watt and 100 watt lightbulbs to customers who still prefer the older lamps.

Lesley Urrutia remarked: "Absolutely crazy. People are buying in tens, twenties. The demand is just phenomenal. I'm selling loads, absolutely loads."

From 1st September it will be illegal to manufacture or import traditional 100 watt lightbulbs. But people who don't like the new energy savers can still buy them where they can, so shops like this are making sure they've got plenty in stock.

According to the Government, newer bulbs are eighty per cent more efficient than the older versions. Each new lamp can save as much as £6 a year, cutting environmentally harmful CO2 emissions by one million tonnes every year (Source: DEFRA).

But saying the new lamps are too expensive and too dull, many traditionalists are bulk buying the older lights.

Energy saving technology is moving fast and several bigger stores no longer sell older style lamps.

Simon Phillips from B&Q commented: "We are about to double the range that we sell in September in the entire company so that as technology has moved on there are a wider range of fittings that we can match. So if customers bring in their old bulb, we'll be able to match it for them and offer them dimmable bulbs. You'll also notice that the brightness is the same now, because that was always a myth that energy saving lightbulbs weren't as bright, but they are now with new technology."

Insisting that all traditional bulbs will be phased out by 2012, the Government says it's good news for our electricity bills and for the planet.