A COUPLE have decorated their house in Kidderminster with lights and decorations handmade throughout the year by the husband.

Linda and Barry Crocker Gowen, of Usmere Road, have decorated their house every year for the past four years with traditional decorations that Barry has handcrafted himself over the years.

Linda was born on Christmas Day, 53 years ago and has lived in the house on Usmere Road ever since. She now lives in the property with her husband.

Mrs Crocker Gowen, said: “The lights and decorations are just spectacular and absolutely breathtaking.

“Christmas has always been very special for me. I felt even more special having a birthday on Christmas day.”

The lights and decorations prove very popular with the children who live on the road who look forward to the annual switch on at quarter past five on December 1.

She added: “The children always come and ask ‘Barry when are the lights going up’. He always does something new every year.

“The children flock to the street to see them. It is really nice.

“He designs them, he creates them and he puts every single light bulb in them. Even my best friend always enquires when the lights will be going up and turned on.”

Mr Crocker Gowen, said: “I do a lot of construction work and I like to make things that are a bit different from the norm. I like to make the decorations completely different from what you can buy in the shops, rather than Father Christmas on motorbikes and trains.

“It has taken me a lot of time throughout the year to create the new decorations.

“It is all for Linda really. She was born in this house and her birthday is on Christmas Day, so we like to make it special.”

He has handcrafted church bells, a church cross, an array of stars and baubles all attached with LED lights to shine during the festive period this year.

Christopher Crocker, Linda’s brother, said: “Linda is obviously extremely popular with all of the children who wait to see the lights on her house each year.

“Barry is very creative in designing and making all of the Christmas decorations and many other fabulous features throughout the house.

“I think they both put an enormous amount of effort, creativity and their own personality into the display, which I think is certainly appreciated by the children who live in Usmere Road.”