A COUPLE from Barrowford have created a Christmas wonderland in their garden in aid of three good causes.

Big-hearted Paul and Clare Earnshaw are behind Christmas at The Orchard, which has taken over their cul-de-sac, off Gisburn Road.

Last year the pair were responsible for a Halloween spectacular for their friend Simon Burrow, who suffered a stroke at the age of 42.

And so with the festive season approaching, the Earnshaws went back to the drawing board and came up with a joint fundraiser for Papyrus, the suicide charity, ELHT and me, which collects funds for the region's hospitals, and Pendleside Hospice.

Disney favourites including The Grinch, characters from Toy Story and an array of princesses have been lined up, alongside Father Christmas.

The yuletide gathering has already had one promising outing and two more themed nights are now planned, with the first taking place this Saturday, between 4pm and 8pm, and the second on Sunday, December 23 over the same timeframe.

Paul said: "The first one went really well and we had around 600 people turning up.

"Our event for Paul last year was such a success that we approached Pendle Council about staging something else and now we've got full road closures in place for this one.

"It was more than three weeks in the planning and the reaction has been great."

One of Saturday's highlights will be a 1.7 mile Santa dash through Barrowford, ending at The White Bear pub, in aid of the hospice.

Paul has also secured the attendance of the popular 5th Legion - stormtroopers from the Star Wars films - as special guests this weekend.

Jonny Dillon, 41, from Burnley, who took his four-year-old daughter Moya along, said: "It was great fun. The Disney characters all came out and met the children.

"The organisers have certainly put a lot of effort into the display with all the twinkling lights and festive backdrops. It's well worth a visit."

On other nights there will be a lights display revolving around the grotto.