FAMILIES across South Essex have brought their homes to life with some spectacular Christmas displays ahead of the big day.

Each of the homes had something different to show from light-up reindeers outside, to candy canes and outdoor Christmas trees.

Lin, 65, and Fred Bird, 71, of Oakwood Avenue, Leigh, created an impressive display with a light-up Santa and sleigh on the roof, fairy lights in every corner, and even a Christmas train set in their conservatory.

Fred said: “We have been doing the lights on our house for 23 years now, we always add to it each year.

“I started it with my granddaughter and every time her birthday comes around on November 29 we turn the lights on.

“We now have more grandchildren since then and they all love the lights as do our neighbours, even the police have knocked on the door in the past to compliment them.

“We always add to it and get something new each year.

“I do it all myself - all the outside and my wife does the inside including the train set in the conservatory.

“All in all it takes about two to three months to set it up.

“I was one of six growing up and my father didn’t have a lot of money but always made a special effort at Christmas time and did his best for us so I like to be able to carry it on.

“I always think of him this time of year and it gives me some contentment as he would have liked to have seen all this.”

Ricky and Kirsty Judd, from Basildon, created a stunning, white display with white lights surrounding their entire house along with a reindeer scene.

Ricky, who has four children with wife Kirsty, aged three, 10, 14, and 16, said: “I started decorating the outside of the house about four or five years ago after I watched the film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

“He lights his house up and it inspired me to do the same.

“Every year the neighbours send cards and say how great the house looks and we try and improve it every year.

“I manage to finish it off after about four days but I hired a scaffold tower so that helped a lot.

“The children love it and my eldest even helped me out this time around.”