Lighting up Christmas for the last time

A couple who have illuminated their house every Christmas for more than 50 years have decided to pull the plug on their festive displays.

Bill and Barbara Wright began decorating their semi-detached bungalow in The Crossways in Portchester, Hampshire, in 1971 and have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity.

The house has become a popular local attraction each Christmas - "you can't miss us", said Mr Wright.

The couple, now in their 80s, will donate the lights and decorations to the Woodsy's Pantry foodbank charity in the new year.

Mr Wright explained he started decorating the house after the birth of their first son.

"It was just a couple of bits and colourful lights. It's just grown over the years.

"There's so much interest, it's fantastic. The neighbours have been 100% behind us and I think they get as much out of it as we do," he said.

Alongside the illuminated snowflakes, Santa Clauses and reindeers, Mr Wright recalled his favourite decoration over the half century was a "singing snowman".

"It was such a happy sound. The standard has gone up and the variation. There is a lot more choice now," he added.

In recent years, the couple have used the display to raise money for charity, most recently the Woodsy's Pantry foodbank which offers heavily discounted food to struggling families.

"The money was coming in from the local community, so we thought it should go back to local people," said Mr Wright.

Laura Hall-Guy of Portchester Community Association which runs the pantry said the couple's online fundraising had helped the charity "fill the void" in donations during the festive period.

"Running a food pantry requires a huge amount of food and money and without Bill and Barbara's hard work and dedication every single year people wouldn't have got the food they need.

"This is a heartfelt thank you, not just from us at Woodsy's but the hundreds of people in the community you have helped to feed over the years of support you have given," she added.

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