STRIKE a light! The battle of the bulbs is under way and the first entries have ensured that the Daily Echo's Christmas Lights Competition has made a bright start.

Neighbours Kevin Horne and Ryan Docketty have transformed their New Milton homes into a gleaming winter wonderland, which attracts visitors from far and wide.

Kevin has been decorating his Winchester Road home for eight years, and when Ryan and wife Nicole moved in four years ago, they couldn't resist following suit.

"We try our best to keep up but he's got a good few years on us," said Nicole, 26.

"When we moved here we saw Kevin's and put a few up, but they weren't so good so we've been adding to them every year.

"Everyone seems to really enjoy it. We've got two young children and they love it - that's what inspires everything really."

Kevin, 48, estimates that his display alone is made up of between 30,000 and 40,000 bulbs.

"I haven't actually counted them all!" he said.

"It's just gradually grown, but it's got to a point now where I don't think I can put any more up."

Kevin meticulously plans his display in advance, and then spends about four weekends putting the lights in place.

He thinks his has a good chance of being named the best-dressed home.

"I see the pictures in the paper and think mine's better than that'," said Kevin.

"You can have too much, and I like to think I've got a good chance of winning."

He says that the competition is not the inspiration for him putting up his display, which raised more than £120 from visitors' donations last year.

As with most things at Christmas, the real reason is to add a bit of festive magic for his two young grandchildren.

"It's just nice to see the kids' faces light up," he said.

"As long as I see that, that really makes it."