Residents fear that crime levels could increase after an overnight street light switch-off was confirmed.

Essex County Council (ECC) has announced street lights across Braintree district will be turned off from 12midnight to 5am from September 1 onwards.

The switch-off will apply to all ECC-owned lights, with the exception of certain major junctions and town centre locations.

ECC has operated the scheme in Uttlesford and Maldon districts since 2007, and claims the initiative has had no negative impact on crime or traffic accidents.

But residents believe the initiative will make people feel less safe walking the streets at night.

Braintree Council leader Graham Butland said: “I believe anti-social behaviour will decrease because people will stand around under street lights and cause a nuisance, but they are not daft enough to do it in the dark.

“Perception of crime might increase, so we need to act on that, but I am 100 per cent supportive of the scheme.”