A councillor in Colchester, Essex, has brightened up a lonely lamp post’s life by bringing it a card and cake to celebrate the first anniversary of the day its light went out.

Labour councillor Dave Harris staged a belated birthday party yesterday, just over a year since the lamp post was hit by a bin lorry.

He told the Colchester Daily Gazette:

“I selected a card with an owl on it because you have to be an owl to see around the place at night.”

Harris says he notified the operators, Essex Highways, who assured him it would be replaced in weeks. Despite his reminders, the lamp remains unlit.

Essex Highways blame the contractor who was handed the repair work. The contractor blames a shortage of suitable lamp posts.

But the stunt seems to have had an effect, for Essex Highways have promised that all will be peace and light again next week.

We may train the spotlight on them then, to see if they’ve kept their word.

Meanwhile, we quote the immortal lines of the poet Dylan Thomas:

“Do not go gentle into that good night …. rage, rage against the dying of the light.”