A HARD-UP council got a shock when it received an electricity bill for the floodlights that illuminate its castle each night.

The account for lighting up the 12th Century tourist attraction at Barnard Castle, County Durham, is usually under £300 a year.

But the town council has been asked by npower for £1,187 to cover only the past six months.

The company said that all past bills had been based on estimates, but the latest one was accurate because the meter was read.

Town clerk Geoffrey Bosworth said yesterday: "It has come as a severe shock as we have only £750 in our budget to cover the floodlights this year, and that includes some repairs which are badly needed."

But he has checked the meter himself, and believes that the correct sum is now being demanded, whereas many of the previous estimates were too low.

He now has to find out if the same meter deals with electricity used to heat and light a small office and shop at the castle. If it does, it may be possible to pass part of the bill to English Heritage, which controls the stronghold.