NEIGHBOURS in Breightmet have started a friendly contest to see who has the best Christmas lights.

Michael and Sandra Barlow, who live opposite Karen Kay and Antony McClarence, on Poulton Avenue, Breightmet, are competing to see who can create the most dazzling display.

Each year, the couples buy more lights to add to their collection to create an even more spectacular scene than the previous Christmas.

Mr Barlow said: "We must have spent thousands of pounds on the lights of the years. It has gradually become a competition.

"Now we have a big switch-on where we turn the lights on at the same time.

"It's just a bit of fun and people driving past have been slowing down to look, and people have been bringing children along to see them too. My nine-year-old son Josh loves them."

Mr McClarence and his partner Karen Kay, have spent about £4,000 on the lights.

He said: "Mr Barlow is my best mate and this all started as a laugh but now it has got quite competitive.

"It started about four years ago when he put up some bigger lights than mine and that was it! It spiralled from there because we both want to have the best display in the street."