It's the light fantastic!

And it's not just the trend of festooning homes that's caught on - it seems driving round to see other peoples' lights has also become a popular part of the celebrations as streams of cars are regularly jamming some of the most illuminated streets at night.

Rowntree Drive in Idle is one of those streets where resident Michael Stafford, 42, has masterminded a festive feat of engineering to wow on-lookers - not only has he got a life-size Santa going up and down the front wall on a home-made pully system but he's also built a fake chimney with Santa's kicking legs sticking out of the top.

"Everyone else seems to go over the top with lights but I thought I'd go a step further and bring a bit of movement to it - it took me three days to put it all together and get it just right! It's certainly a talking point round here. We get a few bottle-necks on a night though with people coming to have a good look!"

Passersby could be forgiven for seeing double on the way home from the pub as twin Santas sit shamelessly on one roof sipping whisky from bottles through illuminated straws - while next door another Santa abseils from a bedroom window.

Yvonne Wood who lives there has confessed to being a Christmasaholic and admits her Sundays are spent driving round to find the best of the lights on other people's houses.

"It sounds a bit sad really but I can't help it, I enjoy it - and I'm not the only one. You see lots of cars driving round on a night obviously light-spotting!"

In Wrose youngsters coming out of Swainhouse Primary school got treated to a light spectacular on their way home when they pass Tracy Bedler's house in Greenwood Avenue and see Santa parachuting while another of his look-alikes snoozes peacefully on a crescent moon.

And in Swain House Crescent there's a bit of friendly rivalry going on between neighbours Jack Eastwood and Vic Brookes.

"Jack started by putting up some strings of lights and it just grew from there - people call it the battle of the bulbs - but it's all good natured!" said Mr Brookes whose house and garden is crammed with garlands of lights, Santas, snowmen and teddies. There's even a talking Santa who cheers passers-by with a hearty ho,ho,ho wishing them a merry Christmas.

On the other side of the road Mr Eastwood, who has been shedding light on the street for more than 20 years at Christmas time, has even spread his seasonal cheer to next door where single mum Julia Beevers lives with her two daughters Megan, three, and Michaela, 11.

"We think Jack's great. He puts more and more lights up every year. He's run out of room on his house so he's moved on to ours which is brilliant. Megan loves them - every night when she goes to bed she peeps out of the curtains to say night-night to them," said Miss Beevers.

In Birkenshaw, electrician John Lovell has decorated his house with stars twinkling along the roof where Rudolph gallops across the chimney pulling Santa in his sleigh.

Shooting stars and snowflakes glisten among the festive lights strung all over the front of the house and another Santa, obviously an imposter, parachutes across the garden. How he's suspended in mid-air is Mr Lovell's secret, but his decorations cause mesmerised motorists to pull up to admire the view.

Bradford postie Heather Strothard, 24, said peoples' lights help lighten the load of all the extra post they're carrying in the run up to Christmas.

"We've all been commenting that there's definitely more lights on houses this year than there's ever been before - it's getting to be like America!"

John Kirk, manager of ACW Garden Centre in Canal Road, Bradford, said outdoor lights were selling at lightning speed.

"Everything is going fast. The rope lighting is popular and so are the moulded figures but it's the icicle lights that dangle on different length ropes that are a big favourite. They were around last year, but they've really taken off this year.