Family goes bigger and brighter this year in Kingsthorpe with annual Christmas light display

The family of carers make the house shine bright each year to put a smile on the face of their eldest child, Kieran, who has Down's syndrome
Dad Chris and mum Ann with their children, Kieran, 26, Grace, 13, and twin sisters Katie-Ann Sinead-Erin, 9, outside their home in Whiston Road. Picture by Kirsty Edmonds.Dad Chris and mum Ann with their children, Kieran, 26, Grace, 13, and twin sisters Katie-Ann Sinead-Erin, 9, outside their home in Whiston Road. Picture by Kirsty Edmonds.
Dad Chris and mum Ann with their children, Kieran, 26, Grace, 13, and twin sisters Katie-Ann Sinead-Erin, 9, outside their home in Whiston Road. Picture by Kirsty Edmonds.

A Northampton family, who have been decorating their house in Christmas lights for 12 years, have said this year will be more of an impressive, magical spectacle for the school children walking past.

Chris and Ann Flavin-Sweeney, of Whiston Road, in Kingsthorpe, only stopped their display for one year when they had their twin girls Katie-Ann and Sinead-Erin nine years ago.

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But this year, Covid is not getting them down and they have draped more than 3,000 lights around their home earlier than usual, including 2,000 new twinkles on their fence, alongside a brand new snowman and Christmas tree inflatable and four other inflatables, including a Christmas Winnie The Pooh.

There's new inflatables, and old favourites.There's new inflatables, and old favourites.
There's new inflatables, and old favourites.

The family of six usually wait until December 5, after Ann's dad's birthday - who she cares for full-time - to embellish their corner plot, which also brings a smile to the faces of their four children, especially their 26-year-old son, Kieran, who has Down's syndrome.

Chris, who is also a full-time carer for his step-son, Kieran, said: "This year it took the family about three hours to put up, it's something we've done almost every year and this year we have gone bigger than ever.

"We don't usually do it until my wife's father's birthday but this year we thought differently and we wanted to make people happy earlier on.

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"Reaction from the community so-far has already been quite good and it's quite exciting with the kids coming home from school, they are so thrilled when they see the lights and inflatables.

The family guesses that there are more than 3,000 lights up around their house.The family guesses that there are more than 3,000 lights up around their house.
The family guesses that there are more than 3,000 lights up around their house.

"We have a disabled son who is 26 and he loves the display and he enjoys it when we go out driving and looking for lights."

Chris has even set up a dedicated Facebook page for Christmas lights in Northamptonshire, so families can see where the best places are to drive to with their children.

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