Energy-saving LED streetlights will be trialled next year, but it is unlikely to affect Essex’s controversial part-night lighting policy.

Essex County Council will trial the lights in parts of Colchester town centre, starting next spring.

But the scheme will only be rolled out to areas where lights remain on throughout the night.

Last year, the Gazette revealed the council had considered switching to LED lights as a money-saving alternative to part-night lighting.

But the idea was dismissed at the time because it would cost £31million to install.

The switch-off of street lights from midnight to 5am, except in busy centres and accident blackspots, has been rolled out across the county.

In response to questions by the county council’s scrutiny committee, Rodney Bass, councillor responsible for highways, said: “We have commissioned a trial of LED lighting in a number of pilot areas.

“This pilot will involve only those lights which are not subject to part-night lighting.”