Lights 'best ever on estate'

Geoff Hall said more householders had put up inflatable Santas, lights and even reindeer at their homes on the Leys estate than at any other time. Mr Hall, 65, picked up £100 in shopping vouchers after his house in Sage Walk, Greater Leys, was dubbed the best illuminated in the area by judges from Oxford Citizens Housing Association, Oxford City Council, Catalyst housing and Cherwell Housing Trust.

The father-of-four beat off stiff competition from runners up in two houses in Windale Avenue and another in Coriander Way to win the Dazzling Dwelling Competition. Delivery driver Mr Hall said he spent more than a week erecting his display of thousands of lights.

He said: "Pride of place goes to the reindeer and sleigh I have just put up on the porch. It is about 14ft long and it looks great."

Mr Hall has eight reindeers, three Santas on ladders, another two Father Christmases on sleighs, three illuminated Christmas trees, three snowmen, a light-up soldier and thousands of lantern and icicle lights on his three-bedroom home. Two snow machines complete the festive decorations, which Mr Hall said were worth more than £1,000.

He said he first began putting up lights for his children, and carried on with the display after they left home. Mr Hall said: "It is quite good - people come around to see it so it must be special.

"It does something for the community. It makes the estate feel Christmassy and people that you do not talk to all year come round and have a chat. I enjoy doing it - I will keep doing it until I fall off my ladder.

"There is a lot more stuff around this year than there was last year. This is the best year ever on the estate."

Gordon Roper, chairman of Blackbird Leys Parish Council, said: "It's nice when you drive through the estate that you can look left, right and ahead and you can see all the nice lights.

"It is absolutely brilliant, especially when the kids go out and they can see them."