RESIDENTS have united to provide their own street light after a council row left them in the dark.

People in Wellington Street, Gravesend, are leaving hall and outdoor lights on all night to brighten their road after a street light stopped working.

However, they fear crime will increase because yobs cannot be seen as the road is too dark.

Residents say their street is often a target for anti-social behaviour.

They are worried the situation will get worse if yobs think they can commit crimes without being seen.

The light has been broken for more than two weeks.

There are more broken heritage lights across the borough, including in Windmill Street and New Road.

But because the street lights are an ornamental heritage' design they have become the centre of a row over who should pay for repairs.

Kent County Council (KCC) is responsible for fixing street lights.

It says the cost of repairing heritage lights is enormous and Gravesham Council should contribute because it installed the lights.

But Gravesham council leader Councillor John Burden says he was surprised to be asked to provide the extra cash.

He said KCC took over the responsibility for providing street lights, regardless of the design or who installed them.

Gravesham Council paid £236 extra per light for the heritage design in 2001.

Cllr Burden says Gravesham Council now receives no funding for street light repair.

He added: "Installing these lights was a small part of a vision which has won Gravesham grants and awards for regeneration in the past.

"KCC is free to replace them with standard lighting."

Wellington Street resident Mary Jones, 62, says she cannot see her car parked outside her house because it is so dark.

The retired teacher said: "It does bother me, particularly at weekends because recently we have had an increase in the number of drunken people wandering about."

Neighbour Len Ostheimer said: "The majority of the street leave their lights on all night. It's a precaution people are taking.

"We are frightened with it being almost pitch black at night."

KCC spokesman Lisa Whitbread said: "We have already had to supply floodlights in Windmill Street and New Road to supplement the level of lighting for motorists.

"So far money has not been given and we will continue to pursue the matter to benefit residents and drivers."