People in Oxfordshire are getting in to the Christmas spirit, with dazzling displays of lights, festive decorations and giant snowmen.

Canon John Crowe decorates Dorchester Abbey

Scaffolding inside Dorchester Abbey has a festive feel. The Abbey is undergoing a £5m refurbishment and Canon John Crowe decided to incorporate the building work in the Christmas decorations.

He said: "We decided it was unfair for people coming to the church not to see a Christmas tree and this seemed the best solution. It may be a bit unusual but it's quite the talking point."

A Santa Claus and a snowman, both 10 feet tall, are greeting people in Leach Road, Bicester.

Sam Jeacock, 24, said: "I saw the Santa and thought 'I've got to have it'. Then I saw the snowman.

" I just like Christmas."

The house is covered in sparkling lights and the family even got roofers to put Christmas lights on their roof.

Miss Jeacock hopes to keep the display up for as long as partner Kevin Wickens agrees, but she said the display will be back next year.

Villagers in The Broadway, Charlton-on-Otmoor, near Bicester, have a distinctly American flavour to their Christmas lights display.

The light show began when Glyn -- whose parents emigrated to California in 1974 -- and Lynn Roberts put strings of lights, bought in the USA, around a tree in their garden.

Mrs Roberts said: "I think we started it all off and the neighbours followed us."

Neighbours Bryn and Elaine Walker buy their supplies when they visit their daughter Karin in the USA.

She emigrated after meeting her husband when he was stationed with the USAF at Upper Heyford.

Mr Walker said: "American lights work off a low voltage so they are safer to put out in all weathers.

"This year we have a projector so we can put messages like 'Merry Christmas' or 'Seasons Greetings' on the side of our bungalow."

Ian and Marion Stuart also have a married daughter, Vivivenne, living in the USA.

She also met her husband when he was stationed at Upper Heyford.

Mr Stuart said: "We either buy lights when we visit her or Vivienne sends us some."

It's getting brighter and brighter in Bayworth.

Each year, a group of friends in Quarry Road, in the village near Abingdon, decorate their homes and gardens with a dazzling display of Christmas lights and characters.

Three of the six households involved make it a family tradition -- with Pat Thompson and her daughters, Karen Thompson and Sue Heywood getting into the Christmas spirit.

The tradition was started four years ago by Margaret Rouse.

She said: "We have quite a few cars coming through the village to have a look."