FOR John Cherry and Peter Brown the street lamp outside their home has been a subject of some amusement.

The two, who are retired and are next door neighbours in Boness Road, Wroughton, smile each time they see the light, which they claim has been shining by day and by night for at least eight years in spite of repeated calls to the council.

Mr Brown, 74, who moved in to his house eight years ago after working for Raychem in Swindon, said: "I remember calling up the council about when I first moved in but I don't think anything was really done.

"It's not really a nuisance it's just amusing to see the light on all the time, day and night.

"It never goes off, come winter or summer.

"I just wonder how much electricity has been used up and if it's the same bulb that's been in there all that time."

Mr Cherry, a retired WH Smith worker who has been living in Boness Road for around 30 years, shares his concern.

"I have not idea how long it's been on, he said.

"But I know it's a lot of years, and I have made a lot of calls and written a few letters, but it's not got me very far.

"I just think its odd that in these days when we are being told to conserve energy there are things like this wasting electricity."

A spokesman for Swindon Council said that it was not aware of any reports about the light being permanently lit and added it was unlikely that it was the same bulb.

He said: "We check all street lights in the borough every two weeks during the night, to make sure they are coming on when it is dark. We rely mainly on residents to let us know of street lights that are still on during daylight hours.

"But we aren't aware of any reports being made to us about street lights being permanently lit in Boness Road since October 2003.

"We will fix any light that is permanently on within five working days.

"Most street lights in Swindon operate individually on light sensors, which switch the lamp on as it gets dark.

"It sounds as if this particular lamp has a faulty sensor.

"The lamps in street lights have a life of about two years based on continuous burning, so if it's been on any longer than that it would be unusual for it to have lasted for that length of time."

Swindon Council looks after more than 22,500 street-lights and 2,500 illuminated signs and bollards.