A SAUCHIE couple have been left delighted after their Christmas lights raised more than £2,000 for charity.

Denis and Elizabeth Hinchcliffe have been decorating their home and garden with hundreds of lights for a number of years with the help of pal John White.

The tradition has evolved into a massive attraction for the local community with “hundreds” of people turning up every night over the festive period to see the latest display, which features Disney’s Frozen on a projector and even a nightly visit from Santa himself.

Elizabeth told the Advertiser that the total amount of £2,023 raised this year has made it all worthwhile.

She said: “We are really pleased. We are especially pleased because last year it was £1,200 that was raised.

"But to be fair, they were switched on for longer this, from around October time.”

Elizabeth went on to say that she was amazed by the continued numbers of people who were showing up every night to see them.

She continued: “There were hundreds of people coming along every night. You could not only see the excitement in people’s faces, but you could feel it around the whole place.”

There was an unsurprising, but amusing, downside to all of the excitement, however.

“We saw a lot of tantrums from a lot of kids who didn’t want to leave,” Elizabeth said.

“But it did give Denis and John a real focus for those few months.”

The money has now been handed over to Strathcarron Hospice with Denis insisting that it be hand delivered to the Tillicoultry store as he and John both grew up in the town.

The bad news, however, is that it may be the last time the lights go up as Elizabeth revealed that Denis is in two minds about whether to do it again due to the huge amount of effort it takes.

She is optimistic, though, that he will come through as she said he has accepted a couple of Santa donations from neighbours for another display.

If it does go ahead, Elizabeth is adamant that Denis will go all out to make sure he beats the new target of £2,023.