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A husband and wife have been forced to sleep in separate rooms because of their neighbours' Christmas lights - which remind them of the Blackpool Illuminations.

Chris Headland, 69, lives in Welbeck Road, Radcliffe-on-Trent, with wife Sue, 70, a retired legal secretary.

Mr Headland, a self-employed gardener, said two of his neighbours have put up lights around the side of his garden which shine into his house.

He said a neighbour in Welbeck Road has green flashing "laser lights" in their garden, as well as another set of lights wrapped around a tree.

Mr Headland, who has been married to his wife for 42 years, said the lights to the right of his back garden, shine into his bedroom and through the top of the curtains.

"It's a light machine placed in their front garden that flashes these laser lights," he said. "I sleep in the spare bedroom because the curtains are darker in there. I sleep apart because it's really getting to me.

(Image: James Turner)

"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."

Mr Headland said another neighbour, who lives in Shelford Road, put up a set of multi-coloured lights around a tree about a week later which also shine into his home.

He said the combination of the lights from both neighbours remind him of the Blackpool Illuminations.

"The thing it reminds me of is the lights of Blackpool. They are so bright," he said. "It is impossible to say how bright it is."

Speaking about the lights belonging to the Shelford Road resident, Mr Headland 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.

(Image: James Turner)

"I’ve got a little conservatory and I’ve had to close the blinds but you can still see them. We feel we're 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."

Kevin Shuttlewood, 57, head of engineering for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, is one of Mr Headland's neighbours.

He told the Post the lights are switched off at 10pm when the family go to bed.

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

"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.

(Image: James Turner)

"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, a deputy sister at the QMC, lives at the other house in Shelford Road.

She 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.”

Mr Headland added: "I just want them to switch them off quite frankly."