A CHARLTON home lit up the village as it hosted a celebration with the turning on of its Christmas lights on Sunday.

James and Grace Saviour welcomed the community into their home for their annual switch-on, which saw the likes of Test Valley mayor Councillor Ian Carr, neighbours, members of St John the Baptist Church and Father Christmas join the party.

It took the De La Rue worker a month to put up the decorations, creating a winter wonderland at the Sunnyside Close home.

James said: “When we first started [doing the lights] here, someone knocked on the door and said ‘thank you very much you have brightened up our village’.

“It’s expensive but I’m enjoying it. It lights up the village.”

This is the sixth year the family have kept the tradition at their Charlton home.

Reverend Austin Gurr from the Andover-based St John the Baptist Catholic Church also gave a reading at the event before the mayor did the honours of lighting up the residence.

Unity Christian Theatre group members were also in attendance with children and adults alike dressed up as characters in the nativity play.

The theatre group also promoted its upcoming pantomime coming to The Lights in January, called Jack the Lad.

During the switch-on ceremony, Charlton resident Amy Davis said: “It is amazing, it’s a local thing that they have advertised for everyone to come and have a look at their lights, go in their house have a drink. It is an amazing thing to do.”

The mayor also gave a speech and thanked James and his family for brightening up the village, and also raising money for relief in Kerala, India, which was hit by devastating floods earlier this year. The Saviours have family living in the area who have been affected.

Nearly £140 was raised from a tin collection at the event for the cause.

Are you putting up a Christmas lights display at your home? Get in touch at newsdesk@andoveradvertiser.co.uk.