Anyone hurrying past Abbey Water  last night, may have wondered why there were lights shining on the ground beneath the archway.

On closer inspection, it was the Romsey group of Amnesty International spelling out the word ‘Syria’ in tealights.

"The purpose of Romsey group’s small but symbolic gesture was to shine a light on the continued troubles and help people remember those ordinary Syrians for whom life is increasingly dark," said group member Fay Fleming.

It is now four years since a peaceful movement began in that country, with Syrians demanding an end to their repressive regime.

The ensuing conflict has resulted in nearly 250,000 deaths, millions fleeing their homes, and life for ordinary people descending into chaos.

Satellite photos show that 83 per cnt  of the lights in Syria have gone out in this unrelenting crisis, but there are still humbling examples of courage, say Amnesty.

One such story was that of a Dr Hassan, in Aleppo, who was operating on a young boy when the lights failed and he found himself in a pitch black theatre. Then, a nurse pulled out her mobile phone and turned it on. Others in the room did the same, eventually producing just enough light to finish the procedure.