IF YOU can't beat them, join them. Eight families in one New Forest close have teamed up to cover the outside of their homes in lights and other decorations for a visual spectacular.

The residents at Kerry Close, Lymington, say hundreds of people turn up every evening to admire the colourful collections.

And they are cashing in on the popularity of their display by holding a daily collection for Oakhaven Hospice, Lymington.

They have already raised £450 and hope to net £1,000 - twice their original target.

Kerry Close resident Kay Allston said: "Hundreds of people arrive every evening.

"Cars start queuing at 4.30pm, half-an-hour before the illuminations are switched on, and some spectators have been back two or three times.''

Mrs Allston said the illuminations had proved a major draw since they were switched on for the first time on December 9.

"We coned the road off on the first day, which was just as well because about 200 people turned up," she said.

It's taken Alan Taulbut three weekends of battling against gale-force winds and torrential rain to put all 700 lights up on his semi-detached home - but it's been worth it.

He said: "It's hard work, especially in this windy weather, but the grandchildren and the neighbours love it. Every year we add to the number of lights, and we've got a big reindeer and sleigh to put in yet."

It all started six years ago when Alan, 63, and his wife Pat, 62, of Gort Crescent in Sholing, Southampton, decided to please their grandchildren with a festive light display. Pat, a supermarket cashier, said: "We'd seen other people's houses with a few lights, and we thought we'd have a go for our grandchildren - they love it.

"When the two oldest girls, who are 11 and 12, came to have a look, they said 'they're really cool, Nan'. We get people walking up and down the road and saying how pretty they look - we're the only people on this estate who do it."

She added: "We try to expand on it a bit every year - normally we just do the front, but we've done the side as well this Christmas. We're already starting to plan for what we're going to do next year."

What started as a Christmas novelty seems to have grown into a Yuletide obsession for the Short household in Chambers Avenue, Romsey. Sharon Short said their illuminated Chambers Avenue home was now a beacon for families across the town. She added: "We had quite a lot last year, but my husband has gone a little crazy this year."

And that is not all. Santa, a sled and various snowmen complement the dazzling display.

And a family in Harefield, Southampton, has gone all-out on its Christmas lights display, with the kids even chipping in with their pocket money. Kevin Pearce said his four children desperately wanted some lights in their garden.

"It's just the kids going around seeing the houses lit up and they say, 'Why don't we do it?'" Mr Pearce said. "So I thought I'd give them a treat this year."

Mr Pearce said he had spent about £500 on the display but his four children, aged between two and 11 could not stop there.

He said they had dipped into their pocket money and bought lights to add to the display.