A COUPLE have raised nearly £3,000 for a foodbank through their street's Christmas lights displays.

Tina and Bill Symmonds brought Christmas to their close in Portslade over the festive season, asking their neighbours to join them in their display.

The pair have now revealed that from December to January they managed to donate £2,854.47 in cash and 150 bags of shopping to the Purple People's Kitchen Foodbank.

For the last few years each house off from Thornbush Crescent, as well as the communal lawn, has been lit up with bright lights and festive decorations in order to raise money for charity.

Tina, 67, said: "Last year we were amazed when £1,753.39 and 250 bags of food were donated.

The Argus: Portslade Christmas lights display raises almost £3,000 for charity.

"This year we are super amazed and humbled by the generosity."

She added: "We would like to say a very big thank you to everyone who visited the display this year.

"The Purple People Kitchen Food Bank gave us shopping lists so we purchased everything to ensure their clients enjoyed a great Christmas and New Year, plus we also purchased lots of store cupboard essentials to be distributed during the year ahead."

Bill, 72, who is retired, began to decorate his home 15 years ago and now 20 other houses are taking part.

He said: "It started small, it was just me and two other neighbours, and it's just got bigger and bigger as more neighbours joined me. I love Christmas, I just love it."

Last year was the first time that Tina and Bill decided to raise money for charity, they saw huge success.

He has built up his collection of trees and inflatable decorations over the years, they are now all positioned across the lawn which is fenced off for health and safety reasons.

The display went up a few weeks before Christmas and came down on January 3, Tina says they try not to think about the electricity bill.

A spokesman for the Purple People's Kitchen Foodbank also thanked the public for their donations: “Your kindness has eased the burden for so many families,” they said.