There were gasps of admiration and wonder when the New Year's Day fireworks lit up Cromer seafront.

But the latest seafront light show is drawing tuts of admonition as unimpressed members of the public ask why the pier and prom lights are glowing in broad daylight.

Many of the Victorian-style lamps that fringe the slopes, promenade and the pier are lit up throughout the day. And some of the lights along the clifftop paths are switched off at night.

The lights are the responsibility of North Norfolk District Council, and the issue has been raised by Cromer Town Council and members of the public on a number of occasions in recent weeks.

A spokesman for the district council said: 'There's a problem with the circuits regarding switching them on as it gets dark.

'That occurred before Christmas and we decided it was better to have them on all the time than off all the time. They are low energy bulbs.'

He added: 'It's not something we want to be happening. The contractors thought they had fixed it, but they hadn't. They will be coming back to try again.'