The state of Brown's Britain: Where York Council cant even change a lightbulb.

Cue countless bloody lightbulb jokes coming from this one from The Metro...

On the face of it, the task was pretty straightforward: fix a broken pedestrian crossing light.

But, after three separate teams of workmen tried repeatedly to complete the job, the crossing was left with four lights ... three of which do not work.

The crossing, which initially had two beacons – one of which did not light up – now has two pairs of lights standing rather uselessly next to each other.

Residents watching the fiasco unfold in York said they were starting to feel as if they were in an Ealing comedy.

Shopkeeper Steve Heyman said only one of the four lights was working after six weeks of work.

Mr Heyman, who runs an organic grocery store in the Fishergate area, added: 'First, about six weeks ago, they sent someone to come along and dig a hole for the new pole, but they didn't have anyone to connect it to the electricity supply.

'Then they sent someone along to dig another hole and connect up the pole, but they just went away leaving a coil of cable behind. Later, someone else came along and connected up the new pole, but it still isn't working, and the new one on the other side of the street hasn't been connected.

'So the only one working is one of the old poles – which worked before.

'Meanwhile, they've left a pile of rubble and fencing that obstructs the pavement. It's been like an Ealing comedy with people digging holes then filling them in again. If I ran my business like this I would have gone bankrupt. No wonder my council tax keeps going up.'

City of York council yesterday defended the zebra crossing scheme, which it said was costing about £5,000.

A spokeswoman said the project was a local improvement scheme. She admitted there had been a delay in getting electricity to the new poles but they should be connected this week.

That last line so describes the problem, "should be connected this week" a statement that should but won't make heads hang in shame.

Truly we are fucked as a nation if we are unable to replace a fucking lightbulb or two...

.