An old couple have been accused of acting like “Grinches” after they complained to the council – about their neighbours’ Christmas LIGHTS.
Chris Headland, 69, and his wife Sue, 70, say they are kept awake at night because the lights look like the “Blackpool Illuminations”.
Mr Headland says he now sleeps in a different room because of the lights flashing into their £200,000 semi-detached home in Welbeck Road, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Notts.
They have even complained to the council, claiming the festive lights – which he says come from two neighbouring properties – constitute “a nuisance”.
Mr Headland, a self-employed gardener who has two grandchildren, said: “We’re being bombarded with lights from two different properties.
“At the back of our garden there is a house and they have put a light machine in their front garden that flashes these laser lights which come straight into our house.
“They’ve also put flashing lights on their apple tree right on my boundary and they’re flashing directly into my house at the back.
“I’ve got a little conservatory and I’ve had to close the blinds but you can still see them.
“They are directly at the back of our garden [and shine] into our kitchen, conservatory and into the bathroom.
“We have to close all the blinds to avoid it.
“They are so bright.
“I sleep in the spare bedroom because the curtains are darker in there.
“I sleep apart from Sue because it’s really getting to me.
“They lights are flashing on the ceiling of our bedroom at night.”
The couple also claim their next door neighbour’s lights also shine into their house at night.
He added: “You can’t escape them. It’s like trying to sleep in the middle of Blackpool Illuminations.
“It’s been about three weeks and we feel like we’re under siege.
“Everyone likes Christmas but that is no excuse for making people’s lives a misery.
“We don’t put lights up on our house but if we did then we’d make sure our neighbours weren’t upset by them.
“I just want them to switch them off quite frankly. My wife and I are not Grinches but I can’t wait to see the end Christmas, these lights are making me miserable.”
Mr Headland and his wife Sue, a retired legal secretary, have lodged an official complaint with Ruschliffe Borough Council.
But the couple’s neighbours have defended their displays.
Fire service engineer Kevin Shuttlewood, 57, who lives next door, says his lights are switched off at 10pm each night.
He said: “We can’t let the lights shine in our son’s bedroom either, it would keep him awake.
“It just isn’t reasonable to complain about Christmas lights, I am shocked that somebody would have so little Christmas spirit.
“They are there for kids, they are also a reminder of the star that led the Three Wise Men.
“They brighten up the winter, most people have them up.
“We don’t have that much up and we toned it down this year.
“They are a fantastic thing, everyone should have them.
“It brings a bit of cheer.
“If someone complains about putting up a bit of Christmas spirit then what is the world coming to?”
Teresa Clayton, 56, a deputy hospital sister lives in Shelford Road which faces the Headland’s back garden.
She said: “We are sorry if he feels it keeps him awake – although we do turn them off between 9.30pm and 10pm every night – but it is Christmas.
“The grandchildren like the lights and we like the lights, it is Christmas, we should have some light.
“I do not think ours are worse than anyone else’s.
“I have lived here for 19 years and I have never had anyone complain.”
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s executive manager for neighbourhoods, David Banks, said: “A resident in Radcliffe-on-Trent has contacted us highlighting they feel there is an alleged nuisance being caused by some festive lights at property in the locality.
“We are now investigating to establish if a statutory nuisance exists and if any further action is required by the council.”
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