Shropshire Star

Watch - Polar bears and icebergs in Market Drayton couple's amazing Christmas lights display

It looks more like a scene from the North Pole but in fact this colourful scene has been created by Lee and Sue Markham who have transformed their home in Market Drayton into an Arctic-themed Christmas lights display this year.

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The display, which costs about £1 per day to run, features about 17,000 LED lights.

Mr Markham said: "It has icebergs as a background with the Northern Lights above and then a life size polar bear and cub plus an igloo.

"We have put some information on a sign for people to read about polar bears, igloos and the indigenous people of the polar regions."

Mr Markham said the reason they opted for the theme was because they thought it would give parents the chance to educate their children about the Arctic region and polar bears.

"We felt the best way to do this was to create a life size bear to give some perspective on size. The intention was to help children appreciate this magnificent creature," he said.

Last year the couple transformed their Sambrook Crescent home into a Cinderella-themed Christmas lights display.

Lee and Sue Markham's Christmas display

"Our lights are very simple. They are just normal string lights that you can buy at any Christmas retail outlet in town or online. Then we added some coloured floodlights," Mr Markham said.

"Anyone who saw our display last year is basically looking at the same components this year. All we do is break everything down at the end of the season, box it up and then make something new the following year."

This year the couple are raising funds for The Brain Tumour Charity, and have already reached more than £500.

Mr Markham said: "I don't normally link a charity to the display because I see it as our gift to the community.

Lee and Sue Markham's Christmas display

"I don't want people to feel obliged to have to contribute. However, there has been an overwhelming amount of people who feel they want to donate after seeing the lights which is quite humbling.

"Then sadly one of my wife's oldest friends passed away last week after losing the fight against a brain tumour. It seemed only right to link these things together and collect for brain tumour research. A friend of ours set up a JustGiving page for the donations. It made it easier because then there is no pressure on people who visit to feel obliged to donate."

Lee and Sue Markham's Christmas display

Mr Markham said this is their fourth year of doing displays at their home and that the reaction this year has been the most overwhelming.

"It is a very different display to what you would normally see on a domestic property, definitely not straight off the shelf and as such appeals to all ages," he added.

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