Councillors clashed over funding for street lights, as accusations members had lost touch with their electorate were thrown.

At a meeting of the full council at the Princes Road, Maldon offices, councillors vigorously debated whether a rise in council tax would fund an extra hour of light coverage.

Labour’s Stevan Slodzik, councillor for Tollesbury, proposed the rise, instead of accepting the 1.5 per cent increase recommended by the Finance and Corporate Services committee.

Councillor Slodzik said: “I would like to propose an increase of council tax of 1.8 per cent to keep street lights on until 1am.

“There are residents who might feel a little bit safer.

“We have pensioners awake all night, worrying about the noises they hear.

“One way of stopping that would be to keep the lights on a little bit longer.”