BROKEN street lights look set to remain out of action because no one will accept responsibility for their upkeep.

Five of the eight lights in Godmans Lane, Marks Tey, are now broken.

Householders wrote to Colchester Council asking why they had not been fixed in years – to be told Marks Tey Parish Council took over responsibility for them three years ago.

Villager Ian Edwards, of Godmans Lane, said: “It’s dark and it’s dangerous and we have had burglaries and a lot of anti-social behaviour. It’s just asking for trouble in an unlit area like this.

“The borough and county council have given us the run around. What do we pay our taxes for?”

Neil Fitch, parish council chairman, denied the local body had ever taken on the lights.

He said: “It has been buck passing all along. Had the borough council contacted us to ask us to take the lights on, our reply would have been ‘not unless we get some money for it’.”

Colchester Council was unable to provide a response.