A COUPLE'S festive offering, brightening a small stretch of a rural road in the North-East, received a celebrity switch-on at the weekend.

Television announcer and local radio presenter Kathy Secker performed the honours to light up decorations costing more than £6,000 at an old farmhouse on the B1404 Seaham to Houghton-le-Spring road on Saturday.

Julie and Mike Mortimer have spent a month decorating the farmhouse and surrounding garden at Sharpley Hall, near Seaton Village, with dozens of lighting displays, a grotto, snowmen and Santa inflatables, round a centrepiece of a 25ft Christmas tree, bedecked with lights.

Seasonal music is also playing each evening in the run-up to Christmas, while Santa has pledged to find time to pop in to visit the grotto on weekends.

It is the second year the Mortimers have adorned their home with a huge festive lighting display.

Last year's effort featured decorations worth £3,000 and raised more than £7,000 in donations for charity from passers-by. It was passed on to Macmillan Cancer Relief in memory of Mike's mother Mavis, who died from cancer.

Proceeds are being split this year between Macmillan Cancer Relief and the Grace House children's hospice appeal.

Donations can be made to the respective appeals via Mr Mortimer's Seaham-based business, Lightning Freight, on 0191-523 1309.