SEVERAL locations across Colchester have been highlighted as the places in the city where woman often feel the most unsafe.

A new map allowing women to identify places they feel vulnerable across Essex launched yesterday and within hours several areas had been pinpointed.

In Colchester the likes of Avalon Way, paths leading to Salary Brook, areas of Greenstead and pathways next to the River Colne off East Hill were flagged.

Berechurch Hall Road was also highlighted by one woman as being an area of Colchester where she has had mostly negative experiences.

Gazette: Concern - Areas of Greenstead were cited as some of the locations where women feel unsafeConcern - Areas of Greenstead were cited as some of the locations where women feel unsafe (Image: Newsquest)

She said: “I feel safe during the day as it is a busy area and there are a lot of people about.

“I don’t like walking on my own before 8am or after 6pm as there are youths around, people on motorbikes revving their engines and skidding round the roundabouts.

“It puts me off getting the bus to and from the station for my commute.”

Speaking about why she feels unsafe near Greenstead, another woman said: “Street lights turn off after midnight - it can be really dark.

“I have to use my torch to walk down the road – it can be really scary.”

The tool has been launched after extensive research was carried out by Essex County Council’s Safety Advisory Group.

The findings shows 16 per cent of women involved felt unsafe in the county’s towns and cities during the day and 47 per cent felt unsafe at night.

Gazette: Reassurance - Louise McKinlay, deputy leader of Essex County Council and cabinet member for Levelling Up, Communities and the EconomyReassurance - Louise McKinlay, deputy leader of Essex County Council and cabinet member for Levelling Up, Communities and the Economy (Image: N/A)

Louise McKinlay, deputy leader of Essex County Council and cabinet member for Levelling Up, Communities and the Economy, said: "Everyone in Essex has the right to live their life free of fear and free of harassment.

"While police and partners in the county are working hard to make the county safer, we know many women and girls in the county still feel afraid in some areas, whether that be at day or night. This is not acceptable.

"This initiative will be valuable in finding out where in the county women and girls feel most unsafe and why."

The map can be used by anyone however, its primary audience is for women and girls over 13-years old.

The map can be accessed by going online to essexcommsafety.commonplace.is/en-GB/map/share-your-views-map.