THE mystery of who owns the lighting at Kempsey's Bannut Hill is still puzzling the parish council and irritating residents.

The 30-year-old lights have been upgraded in the past five years, but no one knows who authorised the work or who has been paying for the electricity.

The question of ownership arose when Worcestershire County Council took over the village street lighting but was unable to include Bannut Hill's two lamps because they were on an unadopted road.

Now householders from eight of the 12 properties have called on the parish council to take responsibility for the unclaimed lights.

In a letter read by the chairman, Joy Clee, at this week's council meeting, they suggested the former Upton-upon-Severn Rural District Council probably installed them when council houses were built.

When that council was disbanded, its responsibilities would have been dispersed to the parish, district or county councils.

"We acknowledge they don't fit the criteria for them to be taken over by Worcestershire County Council, but don't think this is a reason for the parish to dodge responsibility," said the letter. "The parish has continued maintenance for years. Why couldn't they continue, due to this being an historical anomaly?"

Mrs Clee said that whoever put them up, the parish had never been responsible for them and had never had a bill for them.

The parish was debarred by statute from taking responsibility for lighting on unadopted roads, but might be able to help by finding out who owned the land.

"Let's find the owner. He or she might be able to shed some light on this," said Mrs Clee.