A dog walker has slammed highways chiefs after tripping over a broken bench on a partially lit green in Barking.

Barbara Denham fell on Abbey Green, which had a partial blackout due to a technical fault last month.

Workers were this week trying to fix the faulty lights at the open space near St Margaret’s church in The Broadway.

Ms Denham, of Whiting Avenue, Barking, suffered grazes when she fell over the poorly lit bench, which had no backrest, as she walked her dog Max.

Ms Denham, 63, said on Thursday: “Last night the lights were still out. I think it’s terrible.”

She believed the Abbey Green lights may have been switched off to save money but the Labour council denied this kind of cost-cutting measure had been imposed.

A Barking and Dagenham Council spokesman said on Monday: “These lights are out because of a technical fault. We have raised this issue with our lighting contractors and hope to have the problem fixed as soon as possible.

“We are sorry to residents for any inconvenience caused. The council does not have a policy of switching off street lights to save money.”