A driver circuit for a lighting apparatus, comprising: a current regulator configured to supply a load current to a load ; and a control circuit coupled to the current regulator and configured to receive a dimming control signal and to vary an amplitude of the load current in response to the dimming control signal, wherein the control circuit comprises: a conversion circuit that is configured to generate a control signal in response to the dimming control signal; a current sense circuit that is configured to generate a current sense signal indicative of the amplitude of the load current; a combining node that is configured to combine the current sense signal and the control signal; and an error amplifier that is configured to receive the combined control signal and current sense signal and responsively generate an error signal that controls the current regulator, wherein the conversion circuit comprises a microcontroller characterised in that said microcontroller is configured to generate the control signal in response to the dimming control signal and in that the microcontroller is further configured to generate an enable signal that selectively enables and disables the current regulator. a current regulator configured to supply a load current to a load ; and a control circuit coupled to the current regulator and configured to receive a dimming control signal and to vary an amplitude of the load current in response to the dimming control signal, wherein the control circuit comprises: a conversion circuit that is configured to generate a control signal in response to the dimming control signal; a current sense circuit that is configured to generate a current sense signal indicative of the amplitude of the load current; a combining node that is configured to combine the current sense signal and the control signal; and an error amplifier that is configured to receive the combined control signal and current sense signal and responsively generate an error signal that controls the current regulator, wherein the conversion circuit comprises a microcontroller characterised in that said microcontroller is configured to generate the control signal in response to the dimming control signal and in that the microcontroller is further configured to generate an enable signal that selectively enables and disables the current regulator. a conversion circuit that is configured to generate a control signal in response to the dimming control signal; a current sense circuit that is configured to generate a current sense signal indicative of the amplitude of the load current; a combining node that is configured to combine the current sense signal and the control signal; and an error amplifier that is configured to receive the combined control signal and current sense signal and responsively generate an error signal that controls the current regulator, wherein the conversion circuit comprises a microcontroller characterised in that said microcontroller is configured to generate the control signal in response to the dimming control signal and in that the microcontroller is further configured to generate an enable signal that selectively enables and disables the current regulator. <EOS>