EVERY streetlight in Maldon - and indeed in the whole of Essex - will be an energy-saving, long-lasting LED light by the end of 2024.

Essex County Council announced yesterday (Thursday, 3 June) that it is investing £26.8 million in the light-changing programme.

And if you're already thinking that the county council is struggling to fix existing streetlights in a timely fashion - well, you're right.

Councillor Lee Scott, Cabinet member for Highways, explained: "Last year our repair crews attended nearly 38,000 streetlights to fix them, but we are still struggling to keep up.

"LED streetlights last longer, use less electricity and so provide a better service to us all while saving taxpayers' money. We have already installed around 45,000 LED streetlights on main roads and now I'm delighted to announce we are investing to replace the remaining 82,000 lights on residential streets."

Cllr Scott added: "We are making a total investment of £26.8 million (£10.3 million of that is an interest-free Government loan) in the project to make savings above the cost of loan repayments from year 1.

"After 25 years we estimate the net savings to the Council will be around £39 million.

"We may not be able to fix every old sodium type single light that fails immediately, but now there is light at the end of the.. er lamp post."