A COUNCIL blunder has wasted more than £70,000 earmarked for a pedestrian crossing at a dangerous junction.

Rochford district councillors were shocked to discover a £73,000 contribution from a developer had to be handed back to the company because it had not been spent in time by Essex County Council's highways department.

Residents renewed their campaign for a crossing at the junction of Rawreth Lane and Downhall Park Way, Rayleigh, after grandmother Updesh Porter suffered a broken nose and cheekbone and concussion after a collision with a car when crossing there in February.

Councillors heard at a meeting on Wednesday money had been earmarked for a crossing at the junction about six years ago.

As well as helping pedestrians, the crossing would also have been tailored to assist horse riders.

The cash was provided by developers who built housing on the junction and would have made up most of the total cost of the project, estimated at £114,000.

Rayleigh councillor Chris Black said: "Because somebody was too slow, the money has been handed back. Is there much other money floating around, about to be lost?

"It looks like a major mess with £73,000 of council money being lost - and highways complain about a lack of money for roads."

Essex County Council spokes-man Scott Wilson confirmed the money had been handed back because the deadline was missed.

He said: "We are still working on getting the funds in place for the scheme.

"The crossing will cost more than was originally estimated and what the developers provided."

Essex Highways announced last month a pedestrian crossing and extra lighting could be put in at the junction. Residents and councillors have long campaigned for a pedestrian crossing at the junction.