Residents on a new estate claim they have been left in the dark by street lights not being illuminated.

They fear they are at increased risk of burglary and accidents because the area is pitch black when the sun goes down.

More than 120 new houses have so far been built on the Burwood Heights estate, off Hill End Lane, Queensbury, and construction will continue until next May.

Local Conservative councillor Michael Walls took up the case when one resident complained there had been no lighting since his family moved into their house a year ago.

Coun Walls said: "There was an attempted burglary at one house the other day and people have told me the fact there were no lights was a major factor.

"The residents are not happy. They are concerned there will be more burglaries because it is in darkness.

"One of the lights affected was switched on a few months ago but it only lasted for a day.

"I have contacted the builders and they say they are looking into it."

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "There has been no street lighting since we have been there, which is more than a year.

"There has been one attempted burglary and you don't know who is walking about in the dark. It is a worry, especially for people who have children. It is pitch black by 4.30 in the afternoon.

"It is so dark some people have driven over kerbs and onto grass verges, damaging their cars, because they can't see."

A spokesman for the builders, Harron Homes, said there were 128 houses built and 34 street lights in total. Of those, three should have been connected some time ago but had not been and a further six were in an area of building which had just been completed.

She said it was hoped all the lights would be on by Thursday.

She said: "Although the lights are our responsibility, we are not allowed to touch them because they are commissioned by the utility company. We have done the wiring but they have to connect them up. We have tried to bring the commissioning forward, but it is out of our control. But we are hoping those nine street lights will be up and running by next Thursday."

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