'You do know you're moving to Christmas Street?'

Houses on Nayling Road in Braintree, Essex, are renowned in the local area for their elaborate Christmas lights displays

For 11 months of the year, Nayling Road in Braintree, Essex, is like many other suburban streets. Unassuming, quiet and lined with a mix of cladding-fronted 1970s houses.

But come 1 December, this cul-de-sac transforms into something quite different.

Thousands of lights festoon the 40 or so houses that take part. One front garden contains an entire model railway, with trains passing through a miniature village. A giant, inflatable green Grinch stands two storeys tall amid green fairy lights and candy canes.

The Famous Nayling Road Christmas Lights, as they are known on social media, have become something of a local phenomenon.

In early December, midweek nights are very quiet - but residents say the scene can get "chaotic" as the month passes and hundreds of visitors come to see the lights

The road's newest resident is taking it all in his stride - but admits friends "took the mick" when they realised the location of his new house.

Sam Aylward, 37, moved to Nayling Road in early November.

"Some people said to me, 'You do know you're moving to Christmas Street? Are you prepared for December?'

"I only had one Christmas tree before I moved in," he adds. "I've now got three."

Mr Aylward says although he had not visited the lights before moving in, his partner had and has ensured his house is suitably festive.

"Some of my lights on the front are from next door," he says. "I did buy some extra ones to sort of light the place up a little bit."

The road's newest resident, Sam Aylward, has upped his decorations game now he lives on what his friends call "Christmas Street"

His immediate neighbour's property is one of the highlights of the whole road.

Frank Petchey, 72, moved to his house in May 1988. Some others on the street used to put up lights, so from that first Christmas he and his wife Patricia took their display very seriously.

"She was always into Christmas. She got it going and ever since then it's got bigger and bigger, and more and more," he says.

Mr Petchey now lays on his elaborate displays - which include about 500m (1,640ft) of lights, a snowy village scene with a toy train, a window display and a full-size Father Christmas model - in memory of his wife, who died eight years ago.

Frank Petchey's display draws one of the biggest crowds each year - he does it in memory of his late wife

He is collecting donations for Helen Rollason - a cancer charity that looked after Patricia while she was ill.

Last year, £1,755 was raised, with more than £10,000 being donated by visitors to 12 other causes.

Each household chooses to collect funds for something close to their hearts.

Mr Petchey says he plans to put up his display in the coming years.

"Even if I can't get up on the roof, I'll just do the bits down here in the garden," he says. "I'll always fulfil my wife's dream - she always knew the best time of year was Christmas."

Mr Petchey's model village comes complete with its own mini fairy lights, snowmen, Father Christmas figurines and a toy train

As the decorations and displays have grown in size, so too have the visitor numbers.

Weekends and Friday nights are the busiest, residents say, with hundreds of people expected to visit in the run-up to Christmas.

Requests are made on social media to those coming along to park considerately - suggesting drivers use a nearby industrial estate, then walk 10 minutes down to Nayling Road.

Dawn Isaac and her family put aside money each year to add to their display, which this year includes a Christmas tree pole and Victorian lantern

"It gets manic," laughs Dawn Isaac, whose display includes an illuminated archway, icicles hanging off the roof and a multicoloured front fence.

"It's lovely to see, but it's better if people walk down because, obviously, being a cul-de-sac means there's one way in and one way out, and it gets rammed."

Safety is also paramount, Mrs Isaac says. "We ask people to try and keep off the displays and our driveways, and be mindful of us pulling on to the driveway - because it is just a residential street and not a public display.

"We don't want to put a downer on it, but we've just got to make sure we're safe and secure with it all."

Some of the houses choose to follow a different theme each year - this one features The Polar Express, and features a large train in the front garden

For many of those visiting, the Nayling Road Christmas lights are a part of their annual traditions.

Stacey Newcombe remembers visiting with her family as a young child in the 1990s.

"There weren't as many houses that did it back then, but it was still worth going," she recalls. "My dad would drive us round in the car and it was magical."

The 31-year-old now lives in Kelvedon with her two children, aged three and 10 months, and she has loved taking them to see the lights.

Stacey Newcombe, pictured in 2021, has been visiting the lights since the 1990s - and now takes her own children

"My little boy absolutely loves it. Whenever we go out, he asks if we're going to the 'Christmas lights street'," she says.

"Even the first time he went, when he was six months old, it was such a sensory experience.

"The people who live there go to a lot of effort, and I love being able to donate to the local charities they collect for."

Braintree resident Debbie Saunders brings her granddaughter to see the Nayling Road lights each year

Debbie Saunders, 58, lives in Braintree and has been visiting the lights for about six years.

This time she has brought her teenage granddaughter, who is a big fan of the giant Grinch down the road.

"The lights are just amazing - we love coming down. They go to so much effort. You feel you should come and have a look," she says.

An inflatable version of The Grinch - one of Dr Suess' most famous creations - has proved popular with visitors this year

Back in Sam Aylward's front room, twinkling lights out the front window illuminate a couple of the moving boxes he is yet to unpack.

"I wouldn't say it's competitive with the lights, but everyone's quite encouraging for people to join in," he says.

"I remember one of the guys up the road said, 'We can't have a dark house in between all of our lights,' and I was like 'Oh, OK, well I'm joining in then!'

"It's definitely made me feel a bit more Christmassy."

But - the really big question - is he going to risk trying to get a Saturday night takeaway delivered closer to Christmas?

"I might end up collecting it," he says wryly. "Though I do need to save money, so I'll stick to cooking something I think."