A HOUSE festooned with Christmas lights has been dedicated to the memory of cancer sufferer Joe Doherty.

For the second year Hindley Green couple Norma and Vinnie Corcoran organised a switch-on at their Lulworth Road home to honour their friend and raise funds for Wigan and Leigh Hospice.

Last year they collected a staggering £360 from onlookers who turned up to admire the display, but this year are aiming for more.

Norma said: "At Christmas time Vinnie and Joe used to walk the estates in Hindley and Hindley Green looking at the decorated homes and Joe talked Vinnie into doing ours up last year for the first time.

"Sadly we lost him in the September after a sudden illness and when Christmas came we decided that Joe, who was in his seventies, would have wanted us to carry on with the plan. So we dedicated the decorations to the man whose idea became reality."

"Only minutes after we switched on the lights for the first time we got a phone call to say that Joe's first great grandchild Madeleine had just been born. it was a lovely moment and we were all very emotional and delighted.

"Madeleine, celebrating her first birthday, was guest of honour at Saturday's champagne switch on by Joe's wife Margaret.

It takes Vinnie and Norma six weeks of preparation for the event and the lights will on until the first Saturday in the new year.

The display includes a beautifully lit magnolia tree, a train with four carriages, 'Merry Christmas' in 14ft x 5 ft lights and much more.

Visitors can drop their donations into a golden wheelie bin at the gate.