FESTIVE lights and Christmas decorations will brighten up a Barton street once again next week.

Grandparents Martin Scarrott, 49, and wife Debbie, 51, are busy transforming their garden into a winter wonderland.

The pair will light up their home for the sixth time and invite residents into their Christmas paradise in aid of learning disability group My Life, My Choice.

Father-of-two Mr Scarrott said: “Me and my wife are doing it to see the kids’ faces.

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“Because I’m disabled I don’t have very much to do so it gives me something to do and it gives back to the community.

“In Oxford there are not that many people that do it. If you came down our road at Christmas you would not know it was Christmas until you got to our place.”

The pair, who have been married for 26 years, have raised about £1,000 by welcoming residents into their Northway home.

Visitors over the past five years have helped to support organisations including Help for Heroes, Thames Valley And Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust and Helen and Douglas House.

This year about 10,000 festive lights are set to shimmer in their front garden.

Inflatable decorations, including a helicopter, aeroplane and Christmas tree, will also delight passers-by.

And the winter display would not be complete without a six-foot Father Christmas, flanked by pop-up snowmen.

Mr Scarrott said: “I feel like I want to get into the mood of Christmas. This makes Christmas special, especially with the kids’ faces and knowing they are getting enjoyment from it.”

The couple decided to raise funds for My Life, My Choice after the Oxford-based group supported his brother and sister-in-law Paul and Jackie Scarrott.

Group members provide residents across the county with a number of services including a travel buddy scheme, support sessions and a radio station.

They also host the city’s only nightclub event for people with learning disabilities.

Mr Scarrott said: “Because I’m disabled myself I feel that if I got worse they would help me.

“At the moment I don’t need their help but they have helped my brother and my sister-in-law a lot.”

Despite having their collection boxes stolen in the past, Mr Scarrott said he was not put off by the thefts.

He added: “We have had to up our security each year, which is a little bit upsetting for me, but it does not deter me.”

Mr Scarrott and full-time carer Mrs Scarrott will now spend the next week creating their masterpiece.

They began buying decorations for this year’s display in January but started planning their event in August.

Residents are invited to join the pair at 24A Northway for their Christmas lights switch-on at 5pm on Friday, November 28.

The Christmas display will then be open for visitors every day between 3pm and 10.30pm until Saturday, January 10.

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