Sussex has taken up the festive spirit as homes battle it out to put on the best display of Christmas lights.

Sunderland may have its Stadium of Light football ground but Sussex can put it firmly in the shade.

Residents of Orchard Close, Southwick, have turned night into day by putting on a stunning show of shimmering illuminations.

No fewer than 22 of the 26 homes in the close have been transformed.

The sparkling display began three years ago when a neighbour dared resident Lyn Brookes to put up a few lights and said he would do the same.

Now people come from far and wide to look at the brightly-decorated homes in the close and in neighbouring Manor Hall Road.

Mrs Brookes said: "We had a minibus full of pensioners visit the close the other night and a group of walkers also came to see the lights.

"We get lots of cars doing several tours around the close every night and parents come with their children.

"We have had two or three new families move here last year and they have spent hundreds of pounds to join in the fun.

"We have a train and other lights on our house and there are others with Santas and reindeer.

"People have decorated their sheds, camper vans and fences with lights and it brings fun to the area.

"It is never dark at night in our road at Christmas and it takes a bit of getting used to when the lights come down on Twelfth Night.

"We didn't think about raising money with the lights until it was too late to register with a charity this year.

"But because the display is so popular with children, we will try to support the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children next year."

In Leylands Park, Burgess Hill, Karen Watling and husband Chris have covered their home in more than 8,000 lights.

It took electrician Paul Pagham and apprentice Chris Greenham, from PDP Electrical Services, Burgess Hill, two days to put them up.

Mrs Watling let it be known that Father Christmas would switch them on and hand out presents to children.

They expected about 50 people to turn up for the switch-on.

Mrs Watling said: "We were stunned when more than 600 people lined the street to see them turned on.

"We were then swamped by hundreds of children wanting a Christmas present from Santa - it was amazing.

"We are raising money for St Catherine's Hospice at Crawley, where a friend and several other people I knew died from cancer.

"We will be collecting donations from visitors until January 2."

Albion players Gary Hart and Kerry Mayo helped switch on the lights at the homes of Michael Burnage and his family in Malines Avenue, Peacehaven.

The Burnage family own three houses there and have put on a spectacular show for the last six years.

Favourite children's characters, including Thomas the Tank Engine and Bob the Builder have drawn thousands of people to see the display.

Last year, they raised £3,525 for the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children in Brighton, which will benefit again this year.

Mr Burnage said: "This year's display is the best ever and we would like people to donate £1 each when they come to see it."

Debbie and John Doe have also turned their house in Cotswold Road, Worthing, into Santa's grotto to raise money for the hospital which saved John's life.

He suffered a heart attack and underwent a triple heart bypass at Guy's Hospital, London, five years ago.

Mrs Doe said: "We are raising money for Guy's to say thank you for saving my husband's life.

"So far we have collected £700 from people who have made donations after seeing the lights.

"We first put them up eight years ago and have added more each year.

"My sister-in-law and her husband, Betsy and John Healey, live just down the road from us and they have got lights on their house as well.

"It is quite a long road and we are the only two houses with lights."

Mark Gillam has been turning his home into a Christmas tableau for seven years and makes the displays himself.

Mr Gillam, who works for an electronics company, has Santa and his reindeer charging across the front of his house in Willow Way, Hurstpierpoint.

He said: "There are literally thousands of lights in the designs, which I make myself.

"Next year we are going to collect for a children's charity which provides holidays for Sussex children."

Do you have a spectacular display of Christmas lights? If so, call The Argus picture desk on 01273 544526.