AN appeal has been made for people to behave responsibly when visiting a Thurrock Christmas lights attraction set up by householders to raise funds for a local good cause.

There were some less than happy seasonal moments last night (Saturday, 11 December) when some of a large number of visitors to the lights display on the Maple Park and Stanford Park estate in Stanford-le-Hope ended up in confrontations with residents as they parked recklessly and without thought for the problems they were causing.

The beneficiary of the money raised from the spectacular display is the Katie's Heart Appeal, whose organiser Charlotte Davies has issued the appeal for visitors to be more responsible – because if there is a repeat residents may close off the road or curtail the display.

She says: "Due to the overwhelming amount of people who came to look at the lights last night in their cars, we are going to have to ask that you find somewhere to park, if you must drive, and walk along to view the Christmas lights.

"Some of the residents were verbally abused by people just because they were trying to get on their own drives.

"This is totally unacceptable. The residents are trying to raise money for a good cause! St Andrews Way is a dead end. Please only visit the lights if you can walk along to view them.

"Thank you to everyone who came, donated and was respectful that these are people's homes.

"If this happens again we will be forced to close the road off to residents only."