CALLS have been made for streetlights around busy Basildon nightspots to be turned on after a man was killed while walking home from a Christmas party.

The 44-year-old, from Laindon, had been on a night out with colleagues at Festival Leisure Park when he was hit by three cars in Cranes Farm Road, near the Sporting Village, at 1am on Saturday.

Cabbie Ralph Morgan, who regularly picks up revellers, said lives were being put at risk. He said: “That road is pitch black at night. People walking home from a night out are dressed in party clothes rather than fluorescent jackets and cars just cannot see them.

“It is dangerous at the weekend because there are so many people moving about the area. It is only going to get worse in the run-up to Christmas, with people going to parties.

The lights surrounding this area need to be turned on now.”

Three cars, including a Renault Clio, a Ford Fiesta and a Ford Ka, were involved in the incident, but nobody was arrested.

Fryerns ward Ukip councillor, David Shepherd, said: “The lights should be switched on across the Basildon borough. I do not think Essex County Council will save money in the long-run, once people begin making legal claims because they have been injured falling on a broken kerbstone in the dark, for example. We are told crime has not increased since lights were switched off, but all I see on social media is people talking about homes and cars being broken into. I will write to Rodney Bass, county councillor responsible for Highways. asking how many more people have to die before he turns the lights back on?”

Mr Bass said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the man fatally injured.

“Our road safety team is looking into this incident and we are awaiting further information from the emergency services.

“We are committed to working with police and other agencies to reduce collisions and injuries.”

Anyone with information about the crash should contact Essex Police on 101.