Christmas lights keep shining

The unofficial Light Up Nelson is going strong, and has gained the support of Mitre10 Mega.

The community-led effort has more than 1400 followers on the facebook page, and a dozen addresses listed where people can go to see the displays.

The light show was in a precarious position toward the end of November, when committed Christmas-light enthusiasts Bev Hollis and Shirley Whall noticed the event was not being officially sponsored or organised as it had been before.

With the help of Hollis’ daughter Kelly Holmes, they created a facebook page to organise the event themselves, and their efforts have paid off. Hollis said it’s been ‘‘great’’. ‘‘We’re rapt with it all.’’

‘‘Considering the stances, it’s been perfect.

‘‘Mitre10 have come on board, they saw the story and the next circum- day they contacted and involved,’’ she said.

Mitre10 communications manager Murray Leaning stepped in got with Mitre10 to offer some prizes for participants. ‘‘I couldn’t not,’’ Leaning said. ‘‘When I heard [the previous organisers] weren’t going to do it, I was gutted.’’

Leaning said there were ‘‘tens of thousands’’ of people who went to see the lights, so ‘‘it seemed crazy not to get in behind it’’.

Mitre10 are offering a $250 giftcard to winners of best lights one category being peoples’ choice and one with Leaning as the judge, $100 for a random public voter, and $25 for funniest selfie, as judged by Leaning.

Mark Peek put up 53,000 lights at his home, which took him about six weeks.

PHOTOS: MARTIN DE RUYTER/NELSON MAIL Stan and Bev Hollis outside their home at 40 Rochfort Dr, Richmond. It takes the Hollis’ a month to put up their lights.