The great European power crisis is becoming real for German residents, with some of the nation’s cities switching off lights and imposing cold showers to preserve energy

As a Russian gas crisis looms, Hanover in Germany’s north-west became the first large city to announce energy-saving measures.

Spotlights on public monuments are off and it’s cold showers only at public swimming pools and leisure centres.

In the Lower Saxony state capital, public buildings will only be heated from October to the end of March, at no more than 20 degrees Celsius.

Nurseries, schools, care homes and hospitals are exempt from the power-saving measures.

Germany is more reliant on Russian gas imports than any other European country.

In Berlin around 200 historic monuments and municipal buildings are being left in the dark as the city switched off spotlights to save electricity.