COMPLAINTS over the dim state of a market town's Christmas lights has led to a wrangle over who is responsible for their repair.

Sixteen of the 42 festive motifs hung from lampposts in Barnard Castle have already gone out and town councillor John Yarker says it is becoming an annual headache.

Coun Yarker - who is in charge of putting up the lights - feels the recurring problem is caused by the power supply from the Durham County Council-owned lampposts.

He has already received more than 80 complaints from local people over the state of the Christmas lights.

However, the county council maintains it is not to blame and says the maintenance is the town council's responsibility.

"It's the same lampposts that have the problem every year," Coun Yarker said. "Many of the motifs are brand new and all the bulbs were replaced. They were all tested and worked effectively before we put them up.

"You normally expect a couple to go by the end of the season if there's been a lot of rain. But they were put up on a dry day. Yet within half-an-hour many of them had blown."

The town council pays more than £3,000 a year to the county to put up Christmas lights across the town. With a total budget of £5,000, it is their biggest single expense.

A spokeswoman for Durham County Council said the lights were the property of the town council and although the county council put up and take down the lights, there was no contract for their ongoing maintenance.

The town council is also responsible for the power supply box attached to the lighting column which provides power to the lights.

The county council was prepared to carry out repairs but these must be funded by the town council, she added.

She said: "What is needed is for the town council to hire a competent contractor to find out what is the problem, this need not be the county council."

Mr Yarker said the lights will be thoroughly tested when they are taken down by an electrician in January.