DISAPPOINTMENT with their town centre's Christmas decorations has led three neighbours to finally see the light -- and put up their own.

And it is not just the three wise ladies who see the lights, most visitors to Elm Grove, Darwen, see them too. In fact they would be very hard to miss.

Such was the dissatisfaction with the festive lights, provided by Blackburn with Darwen Council each year, neighbours Ruth Walsh, Joyce Johnson and Sue Freer decided they would do their own. The result is a spectacle which illuminates the whole street.

Each of the neighbours have spent a small fortune transforming the quiet street into something of a tourist attraction.

It started a couple of years ago with a couple of lights, but has grown into something to rival any town centre.

Sue, who works at Sudellside Community Centre, said: "At first there were just a few lights but it's got bigger and bigger. Last year was good but this time we have just gone over the top. There are icicles, Father Christmases, fibre-optic trees, the lot."

Grandmother-of-three Sue said she has spent more than £300 on the Christmas creation -- leading to a ban from hubby Philip. But, she said, compared with the lights in Darwen, which were officially switched on last Friday, it's worth every penny.

The 50-year-old said: "The lights in Darwen are atrocious. They always are and that's why we did this in the first place."

A big fan of the festive period, Sue admitted most people think she and her perennial-pals are Christmas crackers. But her young grandchildren think the whole thing is great.

And, judging by the visitors, do too do many others.

Sue said: "You always see cars drive down the street, turn round at the bottom and then go again. They have just come to see the lights. The grandchildren love it and the other people on the street don't seem to mind.

"In fact they get a better view than us, because we have to leave our houses to see it!"

Councillor Dave Smith, ward councillor for Sunnyhurst Ward, said: "We are delighted that this lady is contributing to the Christmas spirit in Darwen by putting up decorations in her own neighbourhood.

"The Council has maintained its spending on Christmas lights in Darwen this year with 38% (£33,000) of the total Christmas lights budget.

"Blackburn Town Centre receives 52%, but benefits from significant extra contributions from traders and the outlying villages receive 10% of the total annual spend."