A NUMBER of street lights have been turned back on in Winyates after a spate of arson attacks has left residents fearing for their safety.

Six arson attacks have occurred in as many weeks within Pembridge and Sutton Close, often in close proximity to other vehicles creating as much damage as possible.

These have all occurred from the main footpath between Pembridge and Sutton Close.

One person has been arrested and released under investigation while enquiries continue.

The Advertiser reported back in April 2014 that Worcestershire County Council announced a plan to switch off street lights and plunge parts of the county into darkness in an attempt to save around £500,000 a year.

Workers started ripping out hundreds each month and putting in timing devices which switch them out at midnight.

The scheme concentrated on residential areas, with council chiefs deciding to keep main roads lit in a bid to avoid accusations of public safety being jeopardised but the plan proved controversial.

Redditch councillor Paul Swansborough has been campaigning for years to get the lights in Winyates switched back on in saying residents fear for their safety.

He welcomed the council's back track on the night time balckouts but said more needs to be done to improve community safety in the area.

"This issue is nothing new having spent almost three years campaigning to get our street lights turned back on," he said.

"It’s sadly taken six serious crimes for the council to finally wake up and do something about it."

He added: "The police have been absolutely superb in tackling the issue with me and I would like to thank Sgt Mandy Partridge for all her help so far."

County councillors Alan Amos, cabinet member with responsibility for highways, and Juliet Brunner and Tom Baker-Price have also worked with police.

Cllr Juliet Brunner, local member for Arrow Valley East, said: "We feel that by turning the lights on all night, people living on these streets will feel safer at night."

The money for the work comes from a fund specifically allocated towards highways and highways maintenance.

This fund is allocated to each county councillor.