MALVERN'S historic gas lamps are now protected by law after being listed by the government.

Owners of the Victorian lamp posts - one of the town's characteristic sights - now face fines and even prison terms, if they alter them without the proper permission.

Ninety-five of the town's 108 lamp posts are included in the order, which has been made by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The news comes just weeks after a question mark was raised over the lamps' future.

Malvern Hills District Council, which maintains the lights, said the annual maintenance cost was set to rise by £10,000 to £28,000.

Until now, maintenance has been done by an MHDC technician, but following a safety audit, it was decided the job had to be outsourced to a CORGI-qualified worker.

This led to suggestions that some lamps should be converted to run on electricity.

Two lamps in Watery Lane, Malvern Wells, have already been electrified following a fire in one of them last year.

Carole Marsden, MHDC's conservation officer, said converting the columns to work on electricity would in the future require 'listed building consent'.

The lamps were listed Grade II by the architecture and historic environment division of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, following recommendations by English Heritage.

A 19th Century sewer gas vent in Westminster Bank has also been listed.