07/12/2009 01:00:00
A town in Somerset has been attracting visitors with a display with a difference - a cul-de-sac covered with Christmas lights celebrating the festive season.
Burnham-on-Sea, a small town in south west England county Somerset, is home to a street hoping to bring out the charitable side of visitors and passers-by as it illuminates houses, gardens and ornaments in a display of Christmas cheer.
Families living on Trinity Close have spent around £3,000 each over the past ten years to create a stunning annual display of lights that has visitors arriving to view the spectacle during its hours of illumination - between 4pm and 10pm every day.
The collection of lights has amassed to more than 15,000 fairy lights and aims to provide a benefit to good causes as well as pleasure to the eyes as visitors are asked to place donations in dedicated collection boxes. According to the Daily Mail, £6,000 was raised by last year's efforts. Donations go to Petals, a trust that has been set up to benefit local cancer hospices and other charities.
The newspaper reports that Trinity Close resident, Paula Payne, said: "This year is our best ever display with several new quality illuminations on show.
"We hope to see lots of people over the festive period and raise a good sum for charity.
"It's a real community activity and a great way to know your neighbours."
Neighbour Hazel Gardner said: "It's really great getting everyone together to put up the decorations. We all spend so much time sorting it out."
