And the ho-ho streets keep dazzling!
THE battle to be named Britain’s most festive street is nearing its end. Here, we present the final four leading entrants in the Mail’s contest to find the display that dazzles brightest while raising money for a good cause. The deadline for nominations has passed and in Saturday’s Mail, Britain’s favourite panto dame, Christopher Biggins, will announce the winner, who’ll receive £10,000 for charity.
ARCHERY CRESCENT, ELY, CAMBRIDGESHIRE
Pensioners in a crescent of 25 bungalows in the cathedral city of ely put on a big display every year.
Great- grandfather John Hines, 74, a retired farmer who says he is ‘still a big kid’ about Christmas, spends ten hours arranging more than a thousand lights in his front garden (including 30 icicles, 80 lantern lights and 12 santa Clauses).
others in the street supply illuminated snowmen, Christmas trees, bells and signs — but is stern Queen Victoria, whose statue stands on the green overlooking it all, amused?
‘ everyone knows everyone here,’ says Mr Hines. ‘This is the pensioners’ Christmas street — the youngest resident is 65 and the eldest is in her 80s.’
His friend and fellow resident Cyril elbrow, 73, a retired marine engineer, adds: ‘ The display does amaze you — the neighbours are all very friendly.’
WARWICK DRIVE, HAZEL GROVE, STOCKPORT
Here, three polar bear families, Father Christmas’s workshop and two nativity scenes compete with a north Pole grotto, while across the street is an inflatable chimney complete with flying reindeer and santa on his sleigh.
of 76 houses in the street, 60 have put up outdoor lights — and in the past four years homeowners have raised nearly £ 12,000 for local children’s charities.
retired engineer Brian McAndrew, 72, was the first to put up outside decorations 22 years ago. This year residents will also raise money for the PSP Association, which supports people with the neurological condition progressive supranuclear palsy, from which Brian’s wife Joan suffers.
MAIN STREET, EATHORPE, WARWICKSHIRE
What started 15 years ago as a push to raise money for a new village hall has snowballed into a big annual event for this small rural community.
the Christmas lights switch-on became so popular, police once asked for it to be scaled back because the village couldn’t cope with so many visitors.
this year, all but two of the 43 houses Eathorpe’s Main Street — known simply as ‘the Street’ by locals — are decked out in lights.
Over the years, the villagers have raised more than £20,000 for good causes, including Warwickshire Young Carers and Coventry Baby hospice.
the tradition was started by resident and district councillor Pamela Redford, 72, and her husband Wallace, 74.
Mrs Redford says: ‘there is no pub or shop here so the Christmas lights switch-on is really important to us. When it started, we charged people 50p to see Santa and view the lights.
‘It was so successful we raised more than £350 in the first hour and a half.’
BROMSBERROW WAY, STOKE-ON-TRENT
Turn into normally sleepy Bromsberrow Way and you are hit with a wall of colour on both sides — there are lights galore, plus Christmas characters and signs directing visitors to the North Pole, Elf Workshop and Santa’s house.
another highlight is a 30ft Norwegian Spruce tree with sensors that detect passers-by and play festive music. One resident even has a clothes line with a Santa suit pegged on it.
the festivities, in aid of the Douglas Macmillan hospice, are organised by teaching assistant Dee Collette, 37, and her husband Martin.