IT is proving to be an illuminating Christmas for residents of a street in Westerleigh who wanted to help a charity close to their hearts.

Householders in Mill Crescent are lighting up their homes with a dazzling display of lights, Santas, reindeer and snowmen.

A total of 30 homes in the road have been adorned with flashing and LED lights in a tradition which started 25 years ago.

In the past, collection tins have raised up to £2,000 for various charities including St Peter’s Hospice, Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Red Cross.

But this year, the annual display is collecting money in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust which helped Yate teenager Jordan Thorn and his family before the 15-year-old died of a rare form of cancer in 2010.

Reece Packer, 18, who lives in Mill Crescent, was in the same class as Jordan at Yate International Academy and the pair played in the same football team together when they were younger.

Reece suggested the Teenage Cancer Trust as the beneficiary of this year’s Christmas lights collection in memory of his friend.

His mum Maria Packer said: “We have been doing the lights for about 25 years and collecting money for 10 years.

“We get a lot of people who come out especially to see the whole street lit up.

“It is a real community tradition now and certainly brings the street together.”

Every household in Mill Crescent takes part, there is only one not lit up as it was rebuilt after a fire last year and new residents have not yet moved in.

“We raised about £1,500 last year,” added Maria. “We don’t stand outside every night so collections are just done on a trust basis.

"We have an honesty box which is emptied every night and we hope to raise as much as possible for the charity.”