Husband and wife claim they have been forced to sleep in separate rooms because they are 'under siege' from their neighbours' Christmas lights

Chris and Sue Headland say their bedroom is lit up like Blackpool Illuminations
The couple from Nottinghamshire claim it's making it difficult to sleep
Chris, 69 has been sleeping in their spare room to avoid the 'green laser lights'
Neighbours of the couple say that their lights are always switched off by 10pm

Published: 18:58 GMT, 15 December 2017 | Updated: 20:03 GMT, 15 December 2017

e-mail

744

View
comments

A married couple claim they have been forced to sleep in separate rooms because they feel 'under siege' from their festive neighbours' Christmas lights.

Pensioners Chris and Sue Headland say that their bedroom is lit up like Blackpool Illuminations because two sets of lights shine directly at their home.

The husband and wife who live in Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire claim that green flashing 'laser lights' are making it difficult for them to nod off.

Self-employed gardener Chris, 69, has taken to sleeping in the spare room to avoid them because they light up the ceiling of the couple's bedroom each night.

Chris and Sue Headland are struggling to nod off because they feel like they are 'under siege' from their neighbours Christmas lights

Chris and Sue, a 70-year-old retired legal secretary, have complained to their local council, which has pledged to investigate the matter.

Chris said: 'It's a light machine placed in their front garden that flashes these laser lights.

'I sleep in the spare bedroom because the curtains are darker in there. We sleep apart because it's really getting to me.

The married couple say that the 'green laser lights' are so bright in their room Chris is often forced to go and sleep in the spare room

They claim that there are two sets of lights than shine directly at their bedroom window

'They're flashing on the ceiling of our bedroom at night. You can't escape them. I've gone into the far bedroom where it's not so bad. We're having to take action to avoid it.

'It's been about three weeks. I tried to go back to [my] own bed in the morning or late at night. It's a smaller bed [in the spare room] and my wife will not go in there.

'We are very strong. It will not impact on our marriage.

'The thing it reminds me of is the lights of Blackpool. They are so bright.

It is impossible to say how bright it is.'

Chris said the 'laser lights' came from one neighbour in Welbeck Road, while another resident in nearby Shelford Road has put up a set of multi-coloured lights around a tree which also shine into his home.

Speaking about Shelford Road lights, Chris, who has been married to Sue for 42 years, said: 'They've just put these flashing lights on their apple tree right on my boundary and they're flashing directly into my house at the back.

'I've got a little conservatory and I've had to close the blinds but you can still see them. We feel were under siege at the moment.

'They are directly at the back of our garden [and shine] into our kitchen, conservatory and just into the bathroom. We have to close all the blinds to avoid it.'

Chris, 69 and Sue, 70 have complained to the council about the Christmas lights that are coming between them and their sleep

The Welbeck Road lights belong to Kevin Shuttlewood, a fire service engineer, who said his display was switched off at 10pm when the family went to bed.

Kevin, 57, said: 'We can't let the lights shine in our son's bedroom either, it would keep him awake.

'It just isn't reasonable to complain about Christmas lights, I am shocked that somebody would have so little Christmas spirit.

'They are there for kids, they are also a reminder of the star that led the Three Wise Men.

'They brighten up the winter, most people have them up. We don't have that much up and we toned it down this year.

'They are a fantastic thing, everyone should have them. It brings a bit of cheer. If someone complains about putting up a bit of Christmas spirit then what is the world coming to?'

Teresa Clayton, 56, who owns the lights in Shelford Road, said: 'We are sorry if he feels it keeps him awake - although we do turn them off between 9.30pm and 10pm every night - but it is Christmas.

'The grandchildren like the lights and we like the lights. It is Christmas, we should have some light. I do not think ours are worse than anyone else's.

'I have lived here for 19 years and I have never had anyone complain.'

Rushcliffe Borough Council's executive manager for neighbourhoods, David Banks, said: 'A resident in Radcliffe on Trent has contacted us highlighting they feel there is an alleged nuisance being caused by some festive lights at property in the locality.

'We are now investigating to establish if a statutory nuisance exists and if any further action is required by the council.'

But an unimpressed Chris added: 'I just want them to switch them off quite frankly.