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Cowell's winter wonderland definitely has the X Factor

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AN EAST Hull couple hope to dance their way to this year's Mail's best-decorated house.

Not one, but two Father Christmases show off their fancy dance footwork in the garden of Lesley and Stuart Cowell.

The duo have created a winter wonderland that attracts visitors from all over the area.

Their home off Rosmead Street is the final one to feature in the paper's competition, with the winner, which will be decided by Mail readers, being announced in Monday's paper.

Lesley, who foots the ladder when her partner fits the lights, said: "We have been doing it for 20 years.

"Kids pop by on their way home from school and we have quite a few people taking pictures of the house.

"It is great when you see families coming down.

"You can see our house from miles off."

Their display started two decades ago when Stuart put a Father Christmas on their chimney.

Lesley said: "Father Christmas stayed up all year round for about six years.

"I wouldn't let Stuart take him down so he stayed up until it fell down."

Since then, their display, which includes a grotto, has grown and grown.

There is a moving train and two polar bears as well as a host of lights and signs.

They have even lit up their guttering this year.

Lesley said: "The electricity bill isn't too bad.

"It goes up a couple of quid but we use those low-wattage LED lights.

"The lights just accumulate every year. We always try to get new lights.

"This year, we have put lights across the terrace as well as a few more lights, including two polar bears."

The pair tend to decide which new lights to buy, depending on what sales are on.

Stuart started putting up the lights towards the end of November.

It took a day to put up the lights on the wall and another day to complete the grotto.

Stuart, who is a painter by trade, said: "The house down the street always used to have a Father Christmas on the roof. I used to walk past it with my wife and say I will do that to our house.

"She never thought I would, so one day when she was having her hair done, I put one on the roof."

Now, he says it has become a little bit of an addiction.

He said: "When I was younger, we would have a Christmas tree and lights inside but nothing outside. I enjoy doing it.

"I used to do it for the young children who live down the street.

"Now, they are older but in November they still ask if I am going to be putting up the lights again this year.

"It livens up the street a little bit and, at a time with a lot of doom and gloom, the lights hopefully cheer residents up a bit."


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