ORGANISERS of a spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks display are pleading with council bosses to keep streetlights on.

The annual extravaganza on Harwich Quay attracts thousands of visitors, but it is feared revellers could be put off or forced to walk home in darkness because the majority of streetlights in Harwich are turned off at the stroke of midnight.

Fireworks committee member Betty Holbrook said: “We have between 4,000 and 5,000 people from Harwich, Dovercourt and the surrounding areas on the quay for the fireworks and some of them come from Colchester and even Brentwood.

“It would be dangerous if they all had to walk home in the dark.”

Acting Chief Insp Russ Cole, district commander for Tendring, wrote to Harwich Town Council saying that, after reviewing crime figures on previous New Year’s Eves, he would be requesting for the lights to be kept on.

Mrs Holbrook added: “We are very glad to have support from the police and hopefully Essex County Council will cut us a little slack on this special occasion."

Highways boss Rodney Bass said there are no plans to keep the lights on, but he would take advice from the emergency services.