A STREET lamp has seen the light and is finally operational after seven years of darkness.

The street lamp next to the entrance to the railway crossing on Foundry Lane in Burnham is now finally aglow at night, having not been operational since it was installed in 2011.

Due to rowing between council bosses over who should pay for the light to be connected to the mains, it has never been assigned and thus the crossing as remained in darkness.

Essex County Council and Maldon District Council have refused to connect the lamppost to the mains because of an estimated £5,000 cost.

Many residents highlighted how dangerous the crossing was at night, with no lighting on Foundry Lane, the crossing itself, or the path leading up to Springfield Road on the other side.

However, Burnham Town Council voted to support a plan to introduce a solar panel to help power the light, costing £1,150, which would save maintenance costs and charges to hook it up to the national grid.

This has now been installed, with the crossing finally seeing the light.