Furious residents feel unsafe as “failing” new LED street lights are leaving them in the dark.

Householders are warning that two main thoroughfares in Whitstable - Cromwell Road and Oxford Street - are pitch black after sundown.

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They say lights are being switched on too late in the evening and turned off too early in the morning.

One resident says their beloved cat was killed during the periods of darkness in the town.

Julie Wassmer, who lives in Cromwell Road, says she contacted Kent County Council (KCC) almost two weeks ago over fears about public safety.

Mrs Wassmer, 66, said: “Sunset is at about 6.30pm but the street lighting fails to come on until 8.20pm and in the mornings the lighting is off by 5.20am although it’s still dark at that hour.”

The author was told by residents in Oxford Street that street lighting fails to come on until after 9pm from Nelson Road down to the harbour.

She added: “One resident told me the lighting is so bad his CCTV has stopped working at night. Clearly, this is a public safety issue.”

Mrs Wassmer says she was told by KCC the problem is due to a “software issue” affecting areas across Kent and will take weeks to fix.

“I think it’s time the council recognised that this is a ‘safety hazard’ - before someone is injured – or worse,” she added.

Neighbour Helen Smith says her nine-year-old cat Saffron was run over during the period the lights have “not been functioning properly”.

Heather Scott, 39, described Cromwell Road as a rat-run, adding: “Now with limited lighting it’s becoming dangerous for the elderly, children and animals.”

A KCC spokesman said: “We are aware of the issue with the timing of some street lights and are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”

Read more: All the latest news from Whitstable