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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Grace Macaskill

UK's best Christmas displays as Illumination Street competition winner unveiled

It's Silent Nights and wholly lights down this cul-de-sac at Christmas.

And now the bright sparks who live there have been crowned winners of the Sunday Mirror’s Illumination Street competition launched by our gardening columnist David Domoney.

The 28 families who live in Hollow Wood Road started taking a shine to outdoor Christmas lights 10 years ago – but it obviously became a bit competitive.

And when they found they couldn’t get parked down their own street for crowds coming to see their huge displays in Burton Latimer, Northants, a light bulb went on in their minds.

They decided to ask for donations from visitors in memory of resident Jim McNeeley, who died of a heart attack in 2015 at 68, days before he was due to help build a Nativity scene.

Residents of Hollow Wood Road (DOMONEY.TV)

Resident and dad-of-two Jamie Featon, said: “It was taking 15 minutes to drive 200 yards down our own street because of the visitors so we decided to do something for the community.

“That first year we were hoping to raise £2,500 for a defibrillator for the town, but ended up buying two.”

Last year they raised £12,000 for a local cancer hospice and equipment for two disabled children.

Jamie 41, whose own display includes around 5,000 lights, reckons that record will be smashed this year.

Another resident, mum-of-four Jacqui Beckley, 49, said: “It’s amazing how much people love the displays.

"They really do spread happiness.”

And now they’ve won our £500 first prize for their charity.

Best large outdoor display

The winner of the best large outdoor display (DOMONEY.TV)

1st: Colourful Farm Christmas Lights in Weston, near Crewe, Cheshire

2nd: Illumin8, which features recycled decorations, in Fraddon, Cornwall

3rd: Cope Park Christmas Lights in Almondsbury, Bristol

Children's window display

1st Children's Window Display - Winter Deer Park - Stevenage (DOMONEY.TV)

1st: Winter Deer Park, which features a patchwork deer, in Stevenage, Herts

2nd: Treasure Trove, based around Disney princesses, in Tintinhull, Somerset

3rd: Winter In The Forest, with its paper snowflakes and white tree, in Hereford, Herts 

Best small outdoor display

The best small outdoor display (DOMONEY.TV)

1st: Nutt Family’s Christmas Lights, with 10 reindeers, in Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield

2nd: Wards’ Christmas Lights, in Renishaw, Herts

3rd: A Colourful Christmas, Spalding, Lincs

Best front door display

The best front door display (DOMONEY.TV)

Keltic Arch by Jane Kelly in Craigavon, Ireland

 
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