Neighbours concerned at a perceived rise in crime handed a petition to keep street lights on from ‘dusk-til dawn’ to their MP.

The petition, which collected around 150 signatures, asked to keep the street lights on in the Chigwell area between 11pm and 5am at a cost of around £3000 a year or 50p per household.

Petition organiser Vimal Ohrie, of Tomswood Road, has worked for months collecting signatures from neighbours after perceiving a rise in vandalism and robberies in the area.

She said: “Police officers are stretched and are struggling to deal with crime in our area, having the street lights on will make their job easier.

“Somebody has to stand up and be counted, if the council don’t do anything we will fundraise from our own residents.

“I have found that people in politics will only act when their job is on the line.”

Mrs Ohrie, who has previously organised a petition to keep Roding Valley underground station open, added: “Next we will push our MP for CCTV cameras.”

Conservative MP for Epping Forest Eleanor Laing, was ‘happy’ to receive the petition at her office in Meadow Road, but denied there was a rise in crime.

She said: “We do not have any proof that there has been a rise in crime there, we have only recieved anecdotes of incidents but of course we want to make sure there is not a rise in crime.”

“There is no direct correlation between the level of crime and the level of street lighting.”

“The point is that people in this area deserve to feel safe, that’s why we need these services and I am always happy to hear my constituents concerns.”

Cllr John Knapman of the Chigwell village ward said Essex county can take the money needed from the Chigwell parish council: “We have offered a financial solution to the county council and we do hope they get their finger out.

“I have not had one resident say to me that they wanted the lights kept off.”

Cllr Knapman confirmed he will raise the issue at the October 14 full Essex county council meeting in County Hall, Chelmsford at 10 am.