Crime levels have shown no signs of increasing in the first month of an overnight street light switch-off, according to police.

Most street lights in Braintree district have been off from midnight to 5am since September 1.

The part night lighting scheme has led to residents fearing an increase in crime, but officers insist there has been no evidence of it so far.

Speaking on Monday, Sergeant Martin Richards said: “There is a perceived concern that crime was going to increase, but actually in my opinion I would say we are now 23 days in and the figures aren’t matching the concerns."