IT'S been baffling plumbers working for the city council - why a public water fountain has stopped working.

The fountain is in Market Lane next to St Maurice's Covert and has been out of action all year, a meeting heard

Former city councillor Ian Tait raised the issue at the Cabinet and said: "The fountain in Market Lane is still not working. I mentioned it in January. It would be good if it was either turned on or taken away."

Council leader Martin Tod said: "The water fountain is a matter of some puzzlement."

Cllr Tod said water is going into the fountain but not emerging when the button is pushed. It runs on water power and no electricity is involved.

"Various plumbers have looked at it. We will continue to look at it and get it working. It turns out it is not as simple as we thought. Time and effort is being spent on getting it working again."

The similar water fountain in Abbey Gardens is working properly.

The fountains have three spouts: one for adults, a second for children and the third, near the base, presumably for dogs.