Christmas fundraisers light up Scotland's streets

Dave Travers' Bearsden home is transformed every year for Christmas

Every year, in December, Christmas lights are put up in homes across Scotland but some communities take it a step further and coordinate their festive efforts.

Christmas light switch-ons and street displays are one way that people are coming together.

And some Scots, like Dave Travers in Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, also use the season to fundraise for local charities.

Dave Travers with his son, Max, outside their Bearsden home

Mr Travers, or as he is known in the local area, Mr Christmas, has raised about £7,000 for Cash for Kid's Mission Christmas in six years.

This year, Mr Travers is also fundraising for Debra, a charity for people living with Epidermolysis Bullosa - a rare skin-blistering condition.

Mr Christmas' display is up for all of December

This year's display features a 4m inflatable Santa

Up to 100 people attended this year's light switch-on

Mr Travers said he always fundraises for Mission Christmas, who give gifts to children facing poverty, as it is a cause close to his heart.

"I feel very lucky and privileged to stay where I stay and my son will never need to want for pretty much anything," he said.

"I think its really important that he understands that not all families have what we have."

Candymill Road in Biggar is covered in lights every year

In South Lanarkshire, Margaret Nelson has paid thousands of pounds for the entire row of homes on Candymill Road, Biggar, to be covered in lights every year since 2020.

She also has a free Santa's Grotto which is run by her family every Friday and Saturday.

"We had a holiday cancelled due to Covid so I just had to find something to spend the money on," Ms Nelson said.

This year's display is her biggest so far but Ms Nelson still has to reach her fundraising goal.

Santa with his helpers, the Nelson family

Ms Nelson has an entire Santa's grotto in her garden

Ms Nelson's display has a North Pole theme this year

The lights look out towards the nearby A702

The festive display is full of colour

Ms Nelson's house has a bright entrance during Christmas

Ms Nelson said: "It's for the Children's First charity, because Christmas is for kids.

"But I'm a big kid and I love Christmas.

"It makes you determined to do more, the feedback and the comments from adults, and kids faces lighting up is amazing.

"That's why we do it, the kids are great," Ms Nelson said.

Residents at Lavender Drive in Newton Mearns transform their whole street into a winter wonderland

Nearly every house gets involved

In East Renfrewshire, Clare Smith and her neighbours at Lavender Drive in Newton Mearns have raised more than £40,000 with their light display since 2020.

The project originally started to cheer up a neighbour who had bowel cancer but the tradition has continued for three years with almost all residents getting involved.

"We've created such a tight-knit community, you don't get that a lot anymore," Ms Smith said.

They have raised over £3,184 this year alone, with donations split between ACCORD Hospice and Young Lives vs Cancer.

"We felt lots of charities are struggling this year and deserved support," Ms Smith said.

Each house has white lights put up by a local window cleaner

Nearly every resident on the street gets in the Christmas spirit to decorate their home

The tradition has gone on since 2020

Some residents go the extra mile, adding some festive furry friends

The display lights are on from 16:00 till 22:00 every night

"The whole cul-de-sac have had their part to play," said resident, Tracy McKissock.

"It's just so lovely to see everyone coming to our area.

"It has grown over the years and now people come from far and wide," she said.

"You hear all the kids screaming with excitement and laughter, it's bringing the spirit of Christmas back to the community," Ms McKissock said.