MARK Robinson and Ian Taylor are determined to make their houses the Santa of attention - by spending more than £2,000 on Christmas decorations.

Their adjoining homes in Chingford Bank, Burnley, are going head to head to be the brightest and best.

The neighbours spent a whole weekend erecting hundreds of metres of strobe lighting and more than 20 trees before the "plug in" on Sunday night.

Father-of-two Mark Robinson has opted for a nativity theme and bulk decorations - enough to fill a van.

While their rivals Ian and Joyce Taylor have gone for a bright Father Christmas climbing a ladder.

Mark, 39, who lives on disability benefits, said: "We have gone totally overboard, but it is great. The neighbours moved in last year and we both did a bit but this time we have really spent a lot."

Both houses will be adorned with six-foot Father Christmas trains and will easily out-do the street lamps with their light show. Most of the decorations have been bought out of town from specialist wholesalers.

The neighbours decided to put their heads together to make their Christmas displays the talk of the town. And they are already attracting interest from across Burnley.

School buses regularly make a detour to catch a glimpse of the displays.

Mark let his neighbours in on a bit of a trade secret which he has been keeping to himself. He said: "I get everything from EP Wood in Darwen. It is a fantastic place and they always give me a bit of discount because I buy so much."

"Even last year people would slow down and have a look and after a while, by word of mouth, people began to come just to have a look," said Mark has been helped out by daughter Heather, 13, and son Dion, 10.

"It is all about getting into the festive spirit and the children absolutely love it. It has always been a tradition to put up the decorations on December 1 before my son's birthday.

"We helped each other out over the weekend to put them up but it will take about three weeks to get them down after Christmas.

"It is going to look fab when they are finished!"

Ian Taylor, who lives next door said they had been lighting up the street as a bit of fun. He said: "It's not a competition we like to help each other out, the kids love it as well as people passing.

"Everybody takes a second glance. It takes ages to set up but it is worth it."