COUNCIL licensing bosses are probing 14 of the town's nightspots, it can be revealed.

The 'live case' investigations are being headed up by the Colchester Licensing Enforcement Group - which includes representatives from Colchester Council, Essex Police and Essex Trading Standards.

But the group is yet to name and shame the venues.

A spokesman for Colchester Council said: "The live cases that get escalated to the Licensing Enforcement Group fluctuate month by month, depending on intelligence, incidents and issues.

"Some premises remain on the list for a longer period than others, and some come off the list and then go back on.

"Since this list comprises live enforcement investigations or proposed actions, we are not able to publish specific details of the premises involved."

He added: "Colchester Council Licensing and Essex Police Licensing works closely with the Safer Colchester Partnership’s Licensing Enforcement Group (LEG) to identify premises or venues with issues and take remedial action early on.

"The LEG uses the opportunity to share intelligence to ensure that all the authorities work together to achieve positive outcomes and ultimately keep Colchester safe both during the day and night.

"Actions which are agreed between LEG authorities are recorded and, once issues are resolved to the LEG’s satisfaction, a venue is then removed from the list."

The spokesman said the approach had been met "positively" by nightspots.

The council also pointed to increased visitor spending in the borough between 2012 and 2015 - the most recent figure available.

According to council figures, there has been a rise in 'direct expenditure' in the evenings and night time in Colchester from £39,988,873 to £46,851,719 while the amount the evening and night time economy is worth to the town has risen from £54,984,700 to £64,421,114.

In 2015, the council spent £11,000 on raising awareness of the town's Purple Flag status in a bid to "change perceptions of the town centre after dark".