Whitchurch gran's lights go on for good cause

A fundraising Whitchurch grandmother has spared no expense in creating her very own Christmas festival of lights – and it's all for a good cause.

Sheila Chase and her family have spent the last four months preparing and perfecting this spectacular display at her home in Chester Road.

Mrs Chase, who will celebrate her 56th birthday on Christmas Day, has for the last few years invited friends and neighbours to the switch-on and has raised £8,500 for charity.

She said: "We've put lights up for many years, but for the last five or six years, we've been doing it for the air ambulance.

"My family and friends gather round and make a big thing of the switch-on which we always hold on December 1.

"We do it now for the Midlands Air Ambulance because we think it's something we need in this country and we have a few friends that have used the service in the past few years. As we are in north Shropshire, we have a fair old journey to make to any of the major hospitals, so I think the air ambulance is a fantastic cause."

Mrs Chase, who is married with two children and one grandson, has struck a deal with an unnamed sponsor who has agreed to match every pound raised by the display.

She said: "We start to think about buying new lights in August, then we start putting them up at the end of October.

"It's hard work, but the support we get from everyone is phenomenal and our thanks go to everyone that puts a donation for the Midlands Air Ambulance our way."