Every year, there's always one house in the neighbourhood that goes over the top with Christmas lights, but even if it's in bad taste it's usually in good humour.
But that's not the case for Steve McCawley, who's started to make a habit out of offending people with x-rated house light displays.
For Halloween this year, he put up fairy lights in the shape of a middle finger alongside the words 'not in', in a bid to prevent trick-or-treaters from knocking on his door.
Credit: Stevie Wilcock / Guzelian
I suppose it does sort of sound funny, although when you factor in the age of most trick-or-treaters, it basically just seems to be swearing at kids. But what do I know?
"It's just a humorous idea," explained Mr McCawley. "I suppose it's better than turning the lights off and pretending you are not in as well. No-one turned up apart from a couple of my neighbours."
Credit: Mercury Press
Mr McCawley put the Halloween message up and took it down the same night, presumably to avoid the police turning up and making him do it.
Last year, the 41-year-old Blackpool resident got into trouble with the police after using fairy lights to draw a bell followed by the word 'end'. In other words - come on, you can get this - 'bellend'. And yeah, we've all had a laugh reading that just now, but it might seem a bit much to innocent neighbours or unsuspecting passers-by.
Credit: Caters
Credit: Mercury Press
When the cops showed up after people complained, Mr McCawley greeted the police from the upstairs window of his house - in the nude. He later changed the lights to read 'I'm sorry' - presumably addressing those who'd taken offence.
Stevie Wilcock took a photo of this year's Halloween message as he passed by Mr McCawley's last night. He said: "Well, they're consistent aren't they?" he exclaimed. "First Christmas, now this. I think it's funny but some people will be massively offended and others will find it hilarious."
As we all know, Christmas is approaching fast, so Mr McCawley's neighbours are presumably waiting with bated breath for the festive season to see if he's going to be naughty or nice.
Words: Mischa Pearlman
