Street lights put up to make an alleyway safer have not been connected to an electricity supply since they were installed six months ago.

A scheme to improve Rochford Garden Way in Rochford under the crime and disorder bill resulted in two new street lights being put up in the dark alleyway.

But six of the gloomiest months of the year later, the lights still have no electricity supply.

Now residents, who use the alley on a regular basis, have demanded to know why the lights are still shrouded in darkness.

Labour ward councillor Maureen Vince said a big question mark was still hanging over the powerless lights. She said: "They are in an alleyway which leads from Ashingdon Road to Rochford Garden Way, and it is a direct route used by everybody.

"Because it is an extraordinarily dark alley and people weren't feeling safe, one light was put in years ago, and arrangements were made for two more.

"Now the lights are there, but there is no electricity, and it feels like we are banging our heads against a brick wall. From a safety point of view it is terrible."

Essex County highways spokesman Lynne Harvey said an order had been placed with Eastern Electricity as soon as the lights were put up. She said: "The delay is in connecting them up, and we need to organise a path closure order because we need to hand dig the ground along those links.

"The order was made in November. Although it seems we are acting very slowly, the residents still have the original column, so they are not without light."

A spokesman for 24 Seven, formerly Eastern Electricity and London Electricity, said the highways' contractors needed to give them permission to close the footpath.

She said: "We are in their hands. It is going to be quite a tricky and messy job, and maybe that's why it's taking a long time."

l Last Monday, Eastern Electricity and London Electricity formed 24 Seven to look after systems, including street lighting.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.