Street lights will switch off tonight as clocks strike midnight to mark the start of a New Year.

Essex County Council (ECC) has confirmed it will not be suspending or altering its part-night lighting scheme, despite the prospect of party-goers walking home in the early hours of the morning.

The scheme currently operates in Braintree, Chelmsford, Colchester, Maldon and Uttlesford districts, and is expected to roll out across the rest of the county in early 2014.