COMMUNITY stalwart Pete Bonney has brightened up an Oxford estate with his annual charity festive light display... 55 days before Christmas.

Now an annual institution in Nuffield Road, Wood Farm, Mr Bonney and his wife Carol unveiled their impressive decorations this week in a bid to gather clothes, blankets and food for homeless people in the city.

The couple have been displaying the lights on their house for seven years and do it to raise the profile of the plight of the homeless.

Mr Bonney said: “It’s about looking after the rough sleepers – there are more in Oxford than people know.”

Each year scores of well-wishers flock to their semi-detached home decked out in hundreds of fairy lights, Father Christmas figures and inflatable snow globes.

The donations of clothing and blankets they leave behind are delivered to homeless hostel Lucy Faithfull House in Speedwell Street in the city centre.

The 72-year-old said: “We like to change it every year.

“Children from schools and nurseries visit.

“I get everything off the internet, searching through the year and if I find something that takes my eye, I get it.

“They ask why am I starting early. But you have to start early – there are so many homeless.”

And he dismissed the spiralling electricity costs caused by the festive display , which he would not reveal, and added: “I don’t worry about things like that.”

Louise Barnden, of Lucy Faithfull House, said: “It’s wonderful and they are wonderful.

“The amount of stuff the local community give and bring to us is brilliant.

“We’re especially thrilled because this is the second year running that they have chosen us as their charity.”

Mr and Mrs Bonney arrive on Christmas Day to hand over clothing, footwear, blankets, sleeping bags and food to the shelter.

Ms Barnden added: “On the day it’s great, they bring clothes and blankets but they also bring food like lovely cakes and other things that are not just for Christmas, like saucepans which we can incorporate into start-up packs for when somebody moves out so it’s not just a flash in the pan.

“They are really excellent.”