A busy Baildon road has been hit by a lack of light after a string of street lamps failed some three weeks ago and have yet to come back on.

Holden Lane resident Averil Pass contacted Bradford Council immediately the lights went out several days before Christmas and said she had been left in the dark by a lack of response or action.

“There had been some roadworks at one end of the lane and then all the lamps went out in one section outside some 20 or so houses.

“It’s been extremely dark for about three weeks and it’s very dangerous because the lane is also used as a rat run. People walk their dogs up and down the pavements on either side and it’s absolutely black out there now,” said retired primary school teacher Mrs Pass.

“The traffic has been very bad recently as people have come over Baildon Moor to avoid the roadworks in Shipley and cut down Holden Lane on their way to Leeds or Bradford,” she said.

Mrs Pass, 70, said she had tried to contact council staff at Bradford over the festive period, but had been meet with automated answering systems.

“I couldn’t get to talk to a human being about the problem, so I left messages but I’ve had no response whatsoever – and the lights are still out,” she said.

“I don’t think it’s right as we all pay to get services and so we should get them.

“Like many, I feel that if a problem like this happens in Baildon then we are just left to get on with it,” said Mrs Pass.

She contacted ward councillor Val Townend who called the council and demanded action, but without success.

“It is essential that lighting in Holden Lane is restored as soon as possible, because it is causing real safety concerns for residents,” said Coun Townend (Baildon, Con).

A Bradford Council spokesman said that engineers had now examined the problem. “Contractors have been out and the problem is the responsibility of Yorkshire Electricity who the council has contacted and who will sort it out as quickly as possible,” the spokesman said.