Rochford Council has made a U-turn on a decision to switch off the streetlights in a car park in Rayleigh after concerns from residents.

The council's trial switch off of the streetlights in Webster Way car park in Rayleigh has failed after Chris Stanley, councillor for Downhall and Rawreth, questioned Essex Police about whether the trial was an effective idea at a council review meeting last week.

The pilot only lasted one week after residents complained that they were concerned about their security during the night.

Mr Stanley said: "I think the pilot was supposed to be two weeks or one month but obviously it did not go down too well.

"I think the trial really failed because the police said there needed to be something done - but not something like this - to control the issue.

"I have encouraged the police to make a visit to the young people in the car park.

"We all have to work together and the police have for to do this."

James Newport, councillor for Sweyne Park and Grange was was also in support of turning the lights back on at night.

Mr Newport was in favour so that residents were safer when using the car park late at night returning to their cars or using the area as a cut through.

He said: "There is a lot of anti-social behaviour in terms of young people in cars going into that car park.

"It has been going on for some time."

He added that switching the streetlights back on will be a benefit to the public's safety, however he says that it is not going to solve the anti-social behaviour.

He said: "I do not think there is any clear answer to the problem.

"If we shut them off in this car park, then the young people are going to move somewhere else."

The councillors say that the lights will now remain switched on every evening.