A CONCERNED resident is outraged over damage made by council workers to a “charming” gas-filled lamp from the Victorian era said to have inspired children’s author C S Lewis.

Robin Hughes from Malvern contacted the paper when he saw a van belonging to Malvern Hills District Council backing into the lamp on Monday afternoon, which the council has admitted and will put right.

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Mr Hughes said: “The long-suffering council taxpayers of Great Malvern are unlikely to welcome their tax revenues being used to support workers who fail to observe a duty of care in their day-to-day duties.

“This duty of care is owed both to persons and artefacts.

“I hope anyone who damages one of these magical lamp posts is likely to suffer serious bad luck until the damage is put right, for obviously the lamp posts exist in two realms: and the inhabitants of Narnia will be as displeased as the residents of Great Malvern at the damage to their lamp post in the wood.”

A council spokesman said the lamp has been inspected for health and safety and found not to be a “risk” to the public.

A spokesman at Malvern Hills District Council said: “Due to another van parked close by, the employee ended up closer to the lamp than he normally would have. This led to the top bar of the cage at the rear of the van catching part of the gas lamp as he moved forward.

“We inspected the lamp and found that it was not a health and safety risk. We are seeking advice from our maintenance provider regarding the repairs needed and will rectify this asap.”