SMASHED posts that have gone unfixed for five months may not even be the responsibility of Redbridge Council, it emerged this week.

The long-running saga began in June last year when Gordon Brown, 77, of Knighton Drive, Woodford Green, reported the damage to posts outside Croft Lodge in Snakes Lane and by the Horse and Wells pub in Woodford High Road.

Mr Brown noticed that the posts had been knocked over and chains were missing.

When he reported the vandalism to Redbridge Council he was told his comment had been recorded.

But he says nothing was done.

Then, in December, the Guardian ran a story highlighting the problem posts. A council spokeswoman claimed no record of the complaint could be found and said: "We can only apologise and look into these questions immediately."

But another five months on still nothing has happened to the posts by the Horse and Wells.

And in a new twist, the council now says it does not even know if the posts are its property.

Speaking to the Guardian this week, Mr Brown said: "Nothing whatsoever has been done.

"Is the council's concept of immediacy in excess of four months?

"I am very surprised at its interpretation of this word and do wonder if it actually knows what it means."

After promising to look into the problems "immediately" in December, a council spokeswoman said this week the authority was not even sure if the posts belonged to it.

However, the spokeswoman said that council representatives would be sent to the Horse and Wells site to investigate the problem this week.