THE possibility of street lights collapsing on passers-by is concerning roads chiefs in East Lancashire.

An estimated 25 per cent of lighting columns in the county are beyond their design life, a figure that will rise to 40 per cent by 2006.

Fears were heightened at county hall when councillors heard that Westminster Council in London had been taken to court when a column collapsed and seriously injured a pedestrian.

The council was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £5,383 costs.

Since 1994 there have been 15 cases in Lancashire where ten metre high columns have collapsed, although there has never been an injury to a pedestrian

A report to councillors says the authority is becoming "increasingly concerned over the structural integrity of the lighting stock", an issue which was first reported in March 1996.

The report adds: "Local authorities should continually review their safety procedures taking into account the age and condition of the infrastructure and the need to protect the public."

The council's highways and transport committee will discuss the situation tomorrow.

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