REDUCED street lighting in Essex has been slammed as “breathtakingly complacent” by a Labour minister.

Essex County Council was named by shadow home affairs minister Stella Creasy.

The council is rolling out part-night lighting across the county next year, following a four year pilot.

During the pilot there was no increase in recorded crime or road collisions.

Labour has called on six councils to investigate the impact of switching off street lights on crime.

Tracey Chapman, cabinet member for highways at the county council, said: “Moving to part-night street lighting across Essex will deliver significant savings, reductions in carbon emissions and light pollution – reducing carbon emissions by around 8,000 tonnes per year.”