Street lights across the county will remain off during the early hours until at least the new year, despite a call for council chiefs to switch them back on immediately.

Many residential and rural roads have been plunged into darkness between midnight and 5.30am as part of Kent County Council's Safe and Sensible lighting initiative.

The aim, say council chiefs, is to save money and cut down on light pollution.

But support has been growing for the scheme to be reversed following a campaign by Gravesend resident, Tina Brooker.

Concerned about crime and safety, the 51-year-old set up a 'Right to Light' e-petition, first with Gravesham borough council and now with KCC, calling for lights to be reinstated.

More than 3,000 signatures have now been collected between the two, and today at a full council meeting of KCC, members were asked to support a motion put forward by opposition UKIP county councillors that officers review the scheme three months ahead of schedule.

Cllr Brian MacDowall, a former Gravesend resident who represents Herne Bay, said on behalf of UKIP that it recognised the public fears and that the policy had caused "some serious issues".

Labour councillors also put forward an amendment that all lights switched to part-night lighting revert back to all-night lighting while the review took place.

However, after a heated debate at County Hall, watched by Miss Brooker from the public gallery, the motion was voted down, with many Conservative members claiming UKIP had jumped on the "political bandwagon".

Despite the setback, Miss Brooker said she will continue with her campaign.

"I feel let down for the people but I'm still determined, more so to be honest after that debacle, and I hope that people will back me.

"If people are feeling like me they have got to come out and sign the petition."

UKIP member and Swale West representative Cllr Mike Baldock, who seconded the motion that an immediate review be held, said public concerns were genuine.

"We have responded to public concerns and so let's have a review, let's have another look at it. Why is that so bad?"

"We haven't had anybody jumping out of bushes or anything like that. It is a ridiculous and flimsy political escapade" - Cllr Michael Northey (Con)

Dr Mike Eddy (Lab), who represents Deal, also told the meeting he had had complaints from his constituents, some from "extremely concerned" young women.

"They feel there is a considerable degree of potential danger," he added.

However, Cllr Michael Northey (Con), of Canterbury South East, said any widescale public concern was "news" to him, and that the light switch-off meant more people "being able to open their curtains at night and see the stars".

Cranbrook Cllr Sean Holden (Con) dismissed the arguments as "whipped up huff and puff".

He added: "We haven't had anybody jumping out of bushes or anything like that. It is a ridiculous and flimsy political escapade.

"People do not want the council spending more and more money on consultations."

Cllr Colin Caller (Lab), who represents Gravesham East, said KCC was "totally at odds" with other councils across the country which had adopted a "more measured approach" of dimming lights rather than switching them off.

Kent Police revealed that police chiefs made KCC aware that it "cannot" support switching off street lights as it is recognised by the College of Policing as a highly effective way of reducing crime.

Cllr. David Brazier (Con), who is cabinet member for transport and represents Sevenoaks North East, said KCC had only received 150 complaints from a population of 1.5 million, and that "most rational people know there is nothing to fear".

He said the scheme would be reviewed district by district next year.

To sign the 'Right to Light' petition online, search for "KCC petitions" and click on the e-petition website.