A MAN who has braved the heights of a tall tree to bring Christmas cheer to a generation of children is finally hanging up his ladder.

Each festive season since 1987, John Davison has transformed the 60ft tree in his garden into a festive landmark by covering it in twinkling lights.

But he has bowed to pressure from his wife to bring his tree-climbing days to an end - now that he has turned 60.

He said: "Lighting up the tree has been a labour of love. I have always wanted to bring a smile to people's faces and have been overwhelmed by the response from both children and adults in the town."

Mr Davison, of Newcastle Road, Chester-le-Street, who only recently celebrated his birthday, said: "I remember as a child always looking out for the first Christmas tree of the season.

"So, when we bought this house, my first thought was to light up the tree."

His wife, Pauline, said: "I was quite anxious in the early days. I would have visions of a body falling through the sky and hitting the ground.

"There have been times I have looked out of the window and thought he wasn't there, not realising that he was higher than I could see.

"It got to the point where I preferred to go shopping when he put the decorations up."

Mrs Davison said the first year the tree was lit up, a young man from a nearby pub knocked on the door and said his friends had promised him £20 for charity if he could get a light, but that he had been unable to reach them.

She said: "We gave him a spare bulb and thought it was the last we would hear of it, but he came back with a receipt for Children in Need."

Mr Davison said: "One day, a little girl looked up at me and I heard her tell her mum that there was a man in the tree. The woman looked to the top of the ladder, but did not see me up in the branches, and told her daughter there wasn't.

"A pantomime-like 'Yes there is' 'No there isn't' exchange ensued."

"As her mother pulled her away, as if to say she was imagining it, the girl looked up and gave me a little wave."

Mrs Davison said: "Two years ago, John was late putting up the lights because wet weather had made the tree slippy and it was not safe to climb. When he eventually did get them switched on, a neighbour called to say she had telephoned America, where her children and grandchildren had gone for Christmas, to let them know all was well. Apparently, they had gone abroad disappointed they had not seen them."