Venezuela moves clocks forward by 30 minutes to save energy

Venezuela has moved its clocks forward by 30 minutes in a bid to save energy.

The measure is part of a national drive to reduce consumption which also includes programmed electricity rationing and public sector employees working a two day week.

Government officials have blamed Venezuela's electricity problems on a lack of rain because of the El Nino weather phenomenon.

Drought has reduced water levels at the main dam and hydroelectric plant to near-critical levels and the crisis-hit country has suffered months of unscheduled outages.

The time change will mean that there is half an hour more daylight in the evening when energy consumption peaks.

The move rolls back the late Hugo Chavez's original change backwards by 30 minutes so that children could wake up for school in daylight.

President Nicolas Maduro has gone on state television to urge citizens to get behind the measures and to consider how they could save energy in the home.