A COUPLE are decorating their home with Christmas decorations after a successful display last year.

The display was so popular with their neighbours in Carrville, near Durham, that Ellen and Mike Carlin were almost duty bound to repeat the gesture this year.

But the pressure was on to make it even better, so they have bought a further £900-worth of decorations with which to adorn their house, in Dene Drive.

They spent three days last week putting up lights all around the house and performed the switch-on last night.

This year, the Carlins have decided to raise funds for a good cause from people appreciative of their light display.

As the couple are owners of former racing greyhounds, they decided to donate the proceeds of the Christmas collection to the TIA Greyhound Rescue charity, in Yorkshire.

As a result they made their canine duo Comet and Star guests of honour at the lighting-up event.

The charity is trying to raise £200,000 to equip kennels for greyhounds that are abandoned by their owners once they are considered to be past their useful life.

The Carlins are asking people who like the decorations to make a small contribution to the charity by throwing coins into Father Christmas's open mouth.

The lights will be switched on daily, from 4pm to 11pm, until January 3. Mr and Mrs Carlin will then wait with trepidation the first electricity bill of the new year.