Essex County Council has nearly £175,000 from developers for highways improvements in the Maldon district.

The cash was given under section 106 agreements, which are made as part of planning applications to upgrade infrastructure to cope with new homes or shops that are built.

It has £174,645 available from section 106 cash for highways improvements in the Maldon district, of which £171,645 has been committed to projects.

But it has none for education in the district, compared to nearly £19.65million in total for the rest of Essex.

The council also repaid £1,228,660 promised by developers from 2008/9 to 2012/13, the highest amount of any English council, according to a Freedom of Information request.

Money is returned if it is not used by agreed deadlines or is not needed.