AN Oswaldtwistle street will sparkle this Christmas to help raise money for a cancer charity.

For more than a decade, Tony Jenkinson and his wife Linda have put on a large festive display of dazzling lights and colour for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

And this year, nine of his neighbours in Aspen Close will join the couple in raising vital funds for the charity, which gives people with terminal illnesses the choice to die at home, by decorating the outsides of their own homes.

Tony, 57, said he was inspired to start collecting money after his father died from cancer at the age of 70, just weeks before his 71st birthday. Tony has also lost other relatives to the disease.

He said: "I usually have 30 or 40 items outside. We put stuff in every room in the house as well. All our neighbours at the bottom of Aspen Close will put their lights on, on Sunday, November 30."

A street party will be held to celebrate the switch on, which will take place at around 5pm.

The Bethany Girl's Choir will sing Christmas carols, a hot food van will serve burgers and hot dogs, Santa and his sleigh will be visiting courtesy of the local Rotary Club, and children's activities are planned.

Collection boxes will be sited alongside the decorations.

Lucy Leeming, community fundraiser for Marie Curie, said: "The money that is raised locally is spent locally, so it will go to Lancashire nurses. What's good about this event is the time of year.

"All our nurses work through Christmas and it's such a special time of year for everybody, so it's nice that Tony and Linda are doing something to raise money for people who will going through a tough time this Christmas.

"It's nice to see the whole community coming together."