STREET lights could be switched back on overnight with a review set to take place in the wake of the tragic murder of Sarah Everard.

In 2014, Essex County Council decided to turn off 70 per cent of its street lights between midnight and 5am in a move which saved £1.3million a year.

But with the death of Sarah Everard sending shockwaves across the nation, a review is set to access the current scheme.

Basildon Council struck a deal with county council bosses in January to see street lights remain on, while Southend Council’s street lights were never turned off.

But Castle Point and Rochford residents have remained in darkness.

Backing the move, Canvey resident Linda Norton fears trouble-makers are left to “get away with murder under darkness”.

Linda, 67, said: “I totally think the lights should be on.

“None of my kids live on Canvey anymore and I’d be scared walking alone. I don’t even like travelling in the dark.”

Independent Canvey councillor Peter May says emergency teams have been forced to take torches with them when responding to calls.

But with £500,000 available, a county council safety advisory board is being set up to look at street safety, including lights.

By working with the police, listening to women’s groups, supporting organisations and other partners, the aim is to investigate and better understand the real fears some have about safety across the county.

Conservative councillor Louise McKinlay, who is heading the board, has assured bosses are taking the safety of all residents “extremely seriously”.

She continued: “It is simply not acceptable that in today’s society residents, women especially, feel they cannot move around freely and without fear.

"Whether they are in our busiest towns or our most rural of hamlets, we want to do all that we can to understand and address these concerns in the right way. 

“We will be working closely with our Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst and will bring together expert groups and individuals to begin conversations, to better understand their views and real lived experiences to look at what we can do to address these important issues.

"Street lighting will form a part of this debate but there is more to consider. There is already a lot of work taking place in areas such as domestic abuse and the creation of this board will allow us to look at the issue of personal safety in the round.

"We are committed to listening and acting so that residents of Essex can not only be safe but importantly feel safe too.”