Keeping street lights on at night makes people feel safe and deters criminals, campaigners have claimed following a report suggesting no link between crime and unlit street lamps.

The study, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in partnership with University College London, claims that turning off street lights at night does not increase road traffic collisions or the level of crime.

In Epping Forest, more than 70 per cent of street lamps have been turned off by Essex County Council as it tries to save money, and people have claimed unlit areas have seen more vandalism and robberies.

In November 2014, councillors from Chigwell, Buckhurst Hill and Loughton successfully campaigned to have lights in some areas turned back on at 5am instead of 6am.

Reacting to the study, councillor John Knapman said: “The key here is people’s perception, and people’s perception is they feel safer when lights are on.

He added: “When we go to a 24 hour Underground service, I do not want people having to walk off from the Tube station and have to walk in total darkness – I just do not think that is right.

“I think [turning off lights] has saved £1million in Essex, and as percentage of approximately £2billion budget it is miniscule.

“Obviously if you look after the pennies the pounds look after themselves, but on the other hand I think our residents should have the right to feel safe, and if having the lights on makes them feel safe then they should have that.”

Vimal Ohrie, of Tomswood Road in Chigwell, has also campaigned for street lights to be turned on again at night.

She said: “Of course turning the street lights off leads to crime, you do not see people breaking into homes and robbing people in the streets when it is light out that often, do you?

“A lot of people are on their own, I lost my husband two months ago and I want to feel safe.

“There are young girls out at night and the lights go off, it is not right.

“We are the people that suffer when it is said that it is not affecting crime, not them, us.

“I stand by the fact that the lights should be on and that it is affecting the level of crime.”

The county council has been contacted for comment.