CHRISTMAS light displays are lighting up Oxford as residents raise cash and collect items for charity.

Scores of people are expected to decorate their homes with large displays, many of them collecting for good causes from passers-by.

Among the first to switch on their lights this year were grandparents Martin and Debbie Scarrott, of North Way, Barton, who are spending their fifth year with their house lit up like a Christmas tree.

Mr Scarrott, 48, said his display was bigger and better than ever, and would this year be raising money for Helen and Douglas House hospice for young people in East Oxford.

He said: “We do it bigger every year and have new items, like this year we have got Father Christmas in a racing car, and a six-foot Santa standing up.

“We build on it every year and make sure we put the stuff we have had before in different places, so no one can say it is the same as it was last year.

“The first year we did it, it was for the heart centre, then we did it for Help for Heroes, the Air Ambulance and then last year we did it for little Charlotte Nott (who was fitted with prosthetic limbs after suffering meningitis).

Mr and Mrs Scarrott have raised more than £500 over the years and will be hoping to beat their previous record of £237.

They will also be running tombola stalls, selling unwanted decorations and collecting bric-a-brac for Helen and Douglas House. Mr Scarrott said: “I suppose it’s not a huge amount, but like Helen and Douglas House says to us it doesn’t matter, it all makes a difference.”

In nearby Wood Farm, Peter and Carol Bonney will be asking for donations of clothing and sleeping bags for the homeless for the 10th year in a row.

Mr Bonney said: “We work with Lucy Faithfull House all year round, we call this our winter season. We collect things like clothes and sleeping bags for the homeless and we look after them.

“We go and see them in person and we never give them money. This is the stuff they need.

“We switched the lights on last week. We normally do them a bit earlier, but we have already had some people come forward which is really good.”

Mr Bonney said they were always pleased to see regular visitors return to see their display each year, and added: “We always have some of the same people who saw it last year who come back when the weather gets colder.”

Do you have an impressive Christmas lights display to tell us about? Call the Freddie Whittaker on 01865 425498.