Christmas lights street raises cash for hospice

The Wrenbury Drive Christmas lights switch-on takes place on the first Saturday of December

Dozens of families on the same street have covered their houses with Christmas decorations to raise money for charity.

About 80 residents on Wrenbury Drive in Rochdale are preparing for the street's own Christmas lights switch-on later.

Thousands of people each year visit the road to see the illuminations, which cover the houses and gardens.

There are QR codes on the road, so people can donate to nearby Springhill Hospice.

Peter Marr has decorated his house to raise cash for the Springhill Hospice in Rochdale

Peter Marr, who lives on the street, said they jhad been doing it for 25 years.

"It's snowballed over the years and it was absolutely packed last year with families - it was like a football match and the hospice is a wonderful cause," he said.

When asked by BBC Radio Manchester about his electricity bills, Mr Marr said he "daren't look" but he added: "Fortunately, they're all LEDs nowadays so you're not burning as much electricity as you would've done a few years ago."

Thousands of people travel to see the Christmas decorations on Wrenbury Drive each year

The families on the street in the Burnedge area will co-ordinate the switch-on of their Christmas lights at 17:00 GMT.

The residents fundraiser brought in almost £2,500 last year.

The Springhill Hospice opened in 1989 and has 16 beds, which provide palliative care for patients from their diagnosis to the end of their lives.

Many of the gardens on Wrenbury Drive in Rochdale have Christmas decorations

The residents enjoy joining in the festivities