Two more families are contenders to have their homes described as the Isle of Man’s most Christmassy house.

Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner featured the Johnsons’ festive home on Bray Hill, Douglas, and the paper wondered if it was the most festive in the island.

Now the Livsey family of Ballabrooie Way in Douglas and the Cringle family of Second Avenue Onchan have come forward.

Both families have truly amazing Christmas lights on their homes. They have also raised money for local charities along the way.

The Livsey family, who used to live on Eskdale Road in Onchan, have a display with reindeer, trees, a train, a projector with Santa on his sleigh and so much more.

Barbara Livsey said of the display: ’I just love Christmas. I did even before my son David came along and it’s lovely to have people stop and see the lights.’

The family, which includes Barbara and Ray, their son David and his grandparents Ann and John Davidson, have continued a tradition from their house in Onchan and placed a charity box on the edge of their garden to raise money for the RNLI. In 2016 they raised over £500 for the charity.

Barbara said: ’With us living on an island, we know how vital they are to the community so its just nice that we can give something towards it.’

Another family who use their love of Christmas to spread some joy and raise funds for charity is the Cringles of Second Avenue, Onchan - Samantha, Sean and their eight-month-old son, Jake.

Samantha said: ’When we lived in Baldrine, we didn’t have any space to do decorations but in Second Avenue we have been able to build it up every year.’

snow machine

The family also have a snow machine, which blankets their garden a couple of times a night with artificial snow, which Samantha says makes children and adults alike really happy.

’We live opposite some sheltered housing and one or two people I’ve spoken to say they love seeing it.

’The other day a woman from Port Erin came up to see the lights and snow machine with her son after seeing it mentioned on Facebook.

’She’d not long missed the snow machine being on, but since she was so nice, I put it back on and her son just loved it.’

Samantha says that she has been lucky this year to be able to spend Christmas time at home as she is on maternity leave.

She added: ’I don’t know how to outdo myself next year without buying an actual reindeer, but at least with all the power I’m helping Manx Utilities pay their debts down.’

The family donate the money they raise to Aid Rescue, a charity in the north of the island that helps to care for and rehome animals.