The historic, wrought iron lamp posts dotted down Beckington Road were installed some 90 years ago and have cast their warm, orange glow over the quiet cul-de-sac ever since.

Most have remained there ever since - a much-loved slice of local history standing tall before the rows of pebble-dashed, semi-detached homes dating from the same period.

So when Bristol City Council started removing them without warning this week, replacing them with modern black poles with LED lighting, residents were understandably alarmed.

Their surprise turned to fury when the building contractors undertaking the work divulged that the original lamp posts were being moved to a more “historic” area of Bristol to “enhance the surroundings''.

The council admitted they were being “recycled” and residents spoke gloomily about how

original features such as the cast iron lamp posts and even flag stone paving had previously been taken from poorer parts of the city and moved to affluent conservation areas such as Clifton.