PENSIONER John Kent has accused Swindon Council of wasting money over some street lights he says have been on day and night for at least three months.

The 78-year-old retired mechanical engineer said he first complained to the council about the lights in Liden Village Centre in January – but they are still on permanently.

Th council says the problem is caused by some faulty photocells and the lights will stay on for another two weeks while workmen wait for parts to repair the problem.

Mr Kent said: “The lights in the centre have been on now for a good three months, day and night. They say it’s a technical fault – how long does a technical fault last?

“I think it’s disgusting. You are talking about the economy and you’ve got lights on all the time. And then they go around and they switch off some lights on roads to save money and these lights are burning all the time.

“It’s a waste of money. It’s unnecessary. You’ve got the shop and the library, and the hairdresser and the chip shop – they don’t need any lights on during the day.”

Mr Kent, who has lived in Eastmere, Liden, for about 16 years, said he first spotted the problem in January, when he told the council, but someone else told him it had been an issue since December.

He said it should have been fixed ages ago and the council should sort the problem now.

The grandfather-of-one said: “People can’t be bothered, I think that’s what it boils down to. I said to one person about it and they said it’s absolutely disgusting no one can come along and sort it out. Various people have said ‘what do they want the lights on for’? We’re told to save but they aren’t bothered.”

A council spokesman said: “We are aware of the problem at Liden Centre, which has been caused by some faulty photocells.

“We have turned the lights on permanently because otherwise the area would not be lit when it is dark as the faulty photocells keep turning the lights off.

“We have ordered the necessary parts, but as they will take time to arrive, we won’t be able to repair the lights for another couple of weeks.”