THREE neighbours have transformed their homes into a winter wonderland. The residents in Elm Grove have lit up their street with a sea of twinkling lights.

The Christmas spectacular has become so well-known locally for its flamboyant approach to the festive season that the residents had to put up their decorations early this year after being inundated with requests.

Local taxi firms have even had requests to take longer routes on the school run to go via the houses, dubbed by locals as 'Darwen's Winter Wonderland.'

Sue Freear, of Elm Grove, and her neighbours have spent about £3,000 on lights and decorations over the years to create their festive masterpiece.

The creation, which has grown each year, has attracted coach trips and family days out in the past and Sue is expecting even more this year.

The mum-of-two said a woman who had come over from America to visit family made a special visit to Darwen after hearing about the houses.

Sue lives with her husband, Philip, a long-distance lorry driver, and her children, Daniel, 19, and Martin, 17, both students at Blackburn College.

She started the decorations a few years ago before being joined by her neighbours and revealed the display had only got bigger by accident.

Sue said: "It was just to brighten up the street at first to get a bit festive for the children. It was nothing special.

"But slowly it has got bigger without us realising. I say every year that I'm not going to buy anything else but I can never resist. This year I've just bought some more £50 lights.

"The reason I started it was for the children. They loved it when they were young but they are older now and they still love it."

Adam Davidson, driver for Chippies Private Hire taxis, added: "The driver will take people on a detour to see the famous houses. The kids say, 'Can we go to winter wonderland on the way home'."