HOW many councils does it take to change a light bulb? You'd be forgiven for thinking that it was the start of a joke but in fact it's a serious question on the lips of many a resident in Swanmore.

It seems like a simple task - changing the bulb in a street lamp but so far it has taken nearly two years and three different councils to determine who is responsible for this particular ray of light.

Residents have been patiently waiting for the corner of Bucketts Farm Close to be illuminated but the problem has been finding out who is responsible for it.

Winchester city councillor for Swanmore Frank Pearson said: "The problem seemed to be that right from the off people were disclaiming responsibility.

"The light went out about two years ago and it has been like that ever since.

"The problem is the responsibility has been passed around but all we want is to get the bulb changed."

As a new development completed within the last five years, the lights along the Close would ordinarily come under the responsibility of Hampshire County Council.

Because the light was on a road that was unadopted, meaning not one of the county council's, it was still the property of Woolwich, the developer - light included.

So, enter Swanmore Parish Council, which began its bid to take ownership of the light in an effort to get it working again.

Parish council chairman Michael Westwell said: "We haven't really got to the bottom of why it has taken so long to sort out, it seems like bureaucracy gone mad.

"The county said that they weren't responsible for it and we are more than happy to have it come under our maintenance budget so hopefully the wait shouldn't be much longer."

However, legal loopholes have meant that the whole case has been sent back to Winchester City Council as the local planning authority for them to negotiate the transfer with the developers.

Spokesman for the council Ian Hogg said: "It would seem that the delay has been in getting the safety certificates from the original developer so these can be passed to the new owner.

"Once we have had the lights certified as safe the parish council can take the light on."

According to Mr Hogg, moves have now been made to replace the light while the negotiations between the developers and the parish council are resolved.

The cost of the replacement bulb - a princely sum of £6!