THE Christmas lights season is now in full swing and across Thurrock many homes have been decorated and viewers invited to make a contribution to local good causes.

In some areas whole communities have come together to light up their neighbourhood with co-ordinated displays for good causes.

Last night (Saturday, 4 December) residents in Rushley Close in Blackskshots, Grays, celebrated their switch on with a visit from Father Christmas, mulled wine, stalls and a firework display.

The lights will be switched on each evening for the next few weeks and visitors are invited to make a contribution to a fundraising effort for Treetops School. The aim is to top last year's total of £700.

In nearby Whitmore Avenue in Stifford Clays there is a 'Winter Wonderland' display organised by Jamie Bagge, also for a good cause.

On Seabrook Rise in Grays Mo and Martin Coda have once again turned their bungalow into a Christmas Grotto. Last year the generous couple were shocked when thieves stole their charity collecting tin but the local community rallied round to support them and replaced and boosted the collection. You can read about that and their lights via this link.

Across the borough in Stanford-le-Hope there's a huge display of decorated properties on the Maple and Stanford Park estate off Butts Lane where the fundraising is for Katie's Heart appeal community defibrillator fund.

It was originally planned to hold a grand switch on event on Thursday, 9 December but residents and organisers felt it would draw too large a crowd for one night and so are hoping people will visit during the weeks leading up to Christmas.

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One of the organisers, Charlotte Davies, explained: "It has been cancelled due to an overwhelming response of people wishing to come along. It would be classed as a fundraising event, and we have not prepared all the necessary health and safety measures and permissions for something like this."

You can make a donation to any volunteers you see when you visit or via the QR code on the poster featured with this story. You can also donate online via via this link.

There are many other public displays across the borough. If you would like to feature them on Nub News, please let us know by emailing [email protected] or messaging us via our Facebook page.