MORE than 500 Dovercourt residents have added their name to a petition calling for streetlights to be switched back on in Tendring.

The additional signatures from Harwich’s west ward have been presented to the town’s Essex county councillor, Ivan Henderson, and join thousands of others across the district.

Campaigners want to reverse the county council’s decision to turn off most of the county’s streetlights between midnight and 5am to save cash.

A protest is also planned to take place at the House of Commons on March 25 – the week before Parliament is dissolved ahead of the General Election.

Last week Tendring Council put aside £160,000 to fund switching the lights back on for a year after calls from the district’s Labour group – but a consultation into whether or not to go ahead with the plan comes to an end tomorrow.

To have your say, e-mail streetlighting@tendringdc.gov.uk or to find a petition to sign call campaign co-ordinator Maureen Smith on 07805 974029.