The festive period may just be getting started but we could already have a contender for the north-east’s brightest Christmas display.
Kirsti McArthur and her husband Scott invited more than just the neighbours to view their annual Christmas switch-on – and around 150 people gladly turned out this weekend to witness the winter spectacular.
Costing around £6,000 and comprised of more than 50 individual pieces, the St Peters Road Christmas Lights have become a must-see attraction for people living in Newtonhill and the surrounding areas.
Kirsti, a 26-year-old school teacher, says her structural engineer husband Scott, 36, started decorating their home on a whim but their festive flair has turned their street into a minor tourist attraction and even allowed them to raise money for local charities.
“My husband Scott just took a notion and it has gotten bigger and bigger since we first started out three years ago,” she said.
“Last year people mentioned getting charities involved and we managed to raise around £700 for the Bettridge Centre, a local community centre in Newtonhill.
“This year we’ve already raised £400 for the centre and also going to people suffering from Cystic Fibrosis.”
That fundraising effort has inspired the couple to keep up with the project and their daughter Jess, 2, has given them fresh incentive to get even more imaginative with their displays.
Luckily, the neighbours don’t seem to mind the bright lights and Kirsti says the couple are already thinking about how they can top this year’s effort.
“We’ve not had any complaints so far,” Kirsti said. “We get on well with our neighbours and they come along for the switch on as well.
“I don’t really know how we could go any bigger than we already have. We’re beginning to run out of space a bit but I suppose we could get some live camels or something – although I think the neighbours might be slightly less understanding with that!”