BOSSES at Colchester General Hospital have called for street lights to be switched on amid fears over staff safety.

The trust in charge of the hospital has backed a campaign to turn on the lights in Turner Road, Mill Road and Northern Approach Road.

Since November last year, 70 per cent of street lights in Colchester have been turned off by Essex County Council between midnight and 5am.

A handful in Turner Road are now on in the early hours.

Mill Road or Northern Approach Road are left in complete darkness for five hours.

Staff, patients and their relatives have expressed concerns about walking to and from the hospital in darkness.

See Tuesday's Gazette for the full story