Christmas Lane in Lowestoft switches on festive lights in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice

An entire street in a seaside town is beaming with festive lights – all to rise money for a children’s charity.

Thousands of lights are lining Christmas Lane, in Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice (EACH).

What started off as a few neighbours decorating their houses has turned into an annual fund-raising event for the whole community.

Resident Denise Bretton, who has been decorating her house in Christmas Lane for 18-years, said: “It’s really lovely. It’s such as joyous thing to hold because the children absolutely love it.

“You can hear them whooping in delight.

“When I go out for a stroll in the evening, I get so many comments from people saying it’s a lovely thing that we do.”

Since 2021, the festive displays have raised nearly £5,000, and since last year, multiple neighbouring streets have joined in the charity event.

This includes Noel Road, St Michael’s Close and Church Lane.

The residents have decided to raise money for EACH – a charity supporting children and young people with life-threatening conditions – as Christmas is about children.

Denise said: “I’ve been here for 18-years and my neighbour has been here even longer than that, and we have always put Christmas lights up.

“Then more people moved in, and it was a bit like a snowball down the hill – everyone joined in.

“Now every single house in Christmas Lane, of which there are 16, is lit up.

“This year, we have more houses that are doing it, and some of the displays are getting bigger – people are adding to their collection.”

For the last two years, the residents have organised an official switch-on, which has helped to raise more money for the charity.

Denise said: “It’s becoming really popular.

“A few hundred people came down for the switch-on, so it’s starting to become a bit of an event in Lowestoft really.

“The switch-on also encourages people to have something to look at with their children.”

Visitors can scan QR codes which are displayed along the roads. Collection buckets are also in place. To donate, click here.

Denise hopes the display can add a little bit of light in the darkness.

She added: "It’s a little respite in a very dark time.

“I think with everything that’s going on in the world right now, it all tends to be bad news, and actually there are some good news.”

The display will run until the end of this month.