IT'S a beacon of Yuletide brightness that cheers up December for scores of pensioners on a Hampshire estate.

Now this colourful - and musical - display has been nominated as the best-dressed Christmas house in the Daily Echo Haskins Festive Home competition.

The transformation from terraced house to winter wonderland is the work of carpenter Cyril Clements, 67, who took two days off work to put up the elaborate decorations.

As well as sliding Santas, lights on the roof and see-sawing elves, the front garden footpath is lined with snowmen who say "Merry Christmas" whenever someone walks past.

Grandmother-of-one Kath Clements, 62, said: "We've been doing up the outside of the house for about 15 years and it's got bigger every year.

"There are warden-controlled flats opposite and a lot of elderly people living here, and they always come to ask us when the lights are going up."

The dazzling home in Sussex Road on the Velmore estate, Chandler's Ford, has now been entered into this year's competition to find the most stunning decorations in Hampshire. The winner will scoop £300 of vouchers to spend in Haskins home and garden store, in West End, and there are two runner-up prizes of £50.

There are just a few days left to nominate the top home. We will publish a selection of the best before choosing a winner, to be announced before Christmas.

DO you live in the best festive home in the region

DO YOU LIVE IN THE BEST FESTIVE HOME IN THE REGION?

Contact Claire Moriarty to enter the Daily Echo and Haskins Festive Homes competition by December 17.

E-mail claire.moriarty@soton-echo.co.uk

Write to Haskins Festive Homes, Southern Daily Echo. Newspaper House, Test Lane, Redbridge, Southampton, SO16 9JX.

Drop entries in the special box at Haskins customer services desk, Gaters Hill, West End.

Please give details of the house address, the home owners and a contact phone number.