Huge Fundraising Christmas Lights Display Turned Off Following Social Distancing Complaints

A huge fundraising Christmas lights display has been turned off following complaints about social distancing breaches. You can see the elaborate display for yourself here:

Husbands Dan Warr-Extance and Mark Extance-Warr, from Tintinhull, Somerset, had converted their home into a festive wonderland for the fifth year running, with visitors asked to donate towards a fundraiser collecting cash for a number of causes, including the NHS and the air ambulance.

However, the couple said they have decided to turn off the lights after police were contacted over social distancing breaches.

Posting on the Tintinhull Christmas Lights Display Facebook page, they said: "We are sorry but we have had to turn the lights off, due to someone phoning the police about social distancing.

"We have also had a lot of people visiting from Tier 3 areas.

''The police have said, we have manned the lights perfectly, but unfortunately a small amount have ruined it for everyone else."

SWNS

SWNS

SWNS

SWNS

Speaking to LADbible, Dan said that with the help of local sponsors, they had spent around £50,000 ($67,143) on the display over the past five years.

However, the couple took the difficult decision to turn off the lights for at least this week following numerous Covid-19 rule breaches.

Addressing prospective visitors, he said: "All we ask is that if we decide to turn them back on - at the moment we have no intentions on them going back on any time soon - but if we did, the lights would be on until 6 January, so there's no need to rush out.

"We ask that no one parks on the main road, and that people keep in the groups and all social distance.

"Please do not travel down if you live in a Tier 3 area - which people have. If you see the queue is long, turn around and try another day."

He added: "Thank you to the lovely families who visited and also respected our home and neighbours, by parking sensibly, keeping noise down and social distancing."

SWNS

Confirming they were called about the display, Avon and Somerset Police told LADbible: "There was a large number of people running into hundreds waiting to see [the lights].

"Officers spoke to the organisers and they agreed they would turn them off due to the significant crowds gathering, which was in excess of what they'd expected."

Whether or not the lights are switched back on, the fundraising will continue.

You can donate here.

Topics: Police, Christmas, UK News, Coronavirus, Police, Christmas, UK News, Coronavirus

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey