Hey guys

i recently changed the lights which shine down onto the numberplate at night when the headlights are on.

They worked at first but now when the boot lid is down and closed or even when the latch just touches its adjacent part the lights go off.

The lights are on from just about to touch the latch to about the far end of mid range when it is opening.

Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this?

I had a similar problem with a previous car - turned out to be just a dodgy connection. When you say you changed them, you mean just the bulbs, or the whole thing? See if you can follow the path of the wires right way along and check for pinching, breaks, bad connections, etc.

if the number plate lights turn on when the boot is open and turn off when it closes then I would be looking for a half broken wire in the bootlid wiring loom around the RH bootlid hinge and the loom connector.