A DAZZLING Christmas tradition ‘since before you could even get lights in the UK’ has returned to a cul-de-sac in Poole.

Runton Road, Branksome has become famous for its festive lights, which residents have been turning on annually for nearly 30 years - minus last year’s hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With no official ‘switch-on’ this year, due to social-distancing concerns, residents have gradually set up their displays and switched their lights on for all to enjoy.

Jean Jones, who has lived on Runton Road for 35 years, said: “Two people used to go on holiday to America and they started bringing lights back before you could get them in this country.

“And then they got them for us and gradually it built up from there really.

“There was a music teacher that used to live on the road and she would bring an organ out and she’d play carols and the Salvation Army used to come up.

“This has always been a Christmas road and when you move out you usually say - shall we leave the lights?”

A beloved family tradition, generations of little ones have giggled and goggled their way down Runton Road.

Her daughter, Alison Jones, said: “It’s so magical to have the lights and it’s so great for the children so we do it for the road and it’s lovely to give something back to the community really.

“It’s nice because my mum’s generation started it for us and now we get to carry it on for our children.”

Each year residents raise money for charities close to their hearts, with donation pots for Amelia’s Rainbow and the RNLI, to name a few, dotted at the end of driveways.

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Organisers previously issued a statement to the public, reminding them to park elsewhere if possible and walk down to Runton Road to avoid traffic chaos and enable residents to access their homes at all times.

The lights begin coming on at approximately 4.30pm every day and start to be turned off at 10pm so the children that live in the road can get to sleep.