Interior Courtesy Light Activation

I'm having problems activating my C3 interior "courtesy" light. The handbook says to activate by pressing one or both of the interior light side buttons with the door open and the engine off and key out. but I just can't get it to work. I have done before, but not now.
The only thing that does happen is that when I then get into drive the car later, upon turning on the ignition the two interior lights then stay on all the time.
Please help. Any advice or suggestions?

Hi
samgriffiths

The two outer switches operate in the classic way. (with ignition on) That is press once and the switch clicks in and the light switches on, press again and the button pops up and the light goes out.

The centre light is controlled by the centre button and arbitrated by the computer. Pressing the centre button with the ignition off and doors closed will put the light on, but then turning on the ignition the light will go out after a few seconds and come back on after the ignition is switched off. Subsequent opening of a door will put the light back on.

removing the ignition key will also bring the centre light back on.

brilliant! sorted. thank you so much. my c3 manual says the opposite - ie, the outer buttons. i thought something was seriously wrong. what a relief.