Pedestrians have been left in the dark for more than a fortnight after council workmen failed to repair broken lights on a gloomy subway.

Safety fears have been raised because every night for two weeks the graffiti-covered walkway beneath Spa Road, in Witham, has been plunged into darkness because of a fault.

Residents say it is attracting under-age drinkers and causing problems for pedestrians who have to squeeze past nuisance youths congregating in the passage way.

Local businessman Stan Brailey said people did not feel safe using the unlit underpass.

He said: "It's pitch black down there at night but we can't seem to get anyone to fix it - they don't seem interested. Women don't like to walk through there."

The underpass leads to the parade of shops on Spa Road. Now Essex County Council has finally been spurred into action by the complaints.

Lighting department chiefs have now promised they would be doing something about the problem.

A spokesman said the long delay had been caused because contractors did not have the right key to get into the lighting.

He said: "We've got an inspector visiting the site with a view to carrying out repairs today or tomorrow."

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