Essex County Council will keep all street lights switched on in the early hours of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Councillor Rodney Bass, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “We are happy to do this as a seasonal gesture of goodwill, and at a cost of some £11,000.

"All street lights will remain on in the early hours, and for the rest of the night, on the mornings of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

"This will enable the public to enjoy festive events including Midnight Mass and New Year's Eve parties. The council has simply chosen to help residents celebrate Christmas and the countdown to 2015.”

He added that there had been no change to the council's street lighting policy and that there had been no evidence of increased crime or accidents across the country since the implementation of part-night lighting.

Council street lights always remain on in areas where well-established exemption criteria apply.