FAMILIES who decorate their homes with elaborate Christmas lights aren't 'chavs' but are instead keeping the true Christmas spirit alive, a researcher has argued.

Steve Millington said US-style decorations featuring flashing Snowmen, Santas and reindeer are a modern-day phenomenon which kept communities together.

He labelled councils which crack down on elaborate light displays killjoys.

The Manchester Metropolitan University lecturer conducted interviews with 22 families in Manchester and Sheffield, who all staged massive light shows each year and also quizzed neighbours about their views on the displays. Almost every family used the display as an opportunity to raise cash for good causes.

Elaborate displays of lights, music and moving figures, often costing thousands of pounds, have been sneered at by some critics as `chav bling'. And one bishop described the displays as `minor ecological disasters' because they use so much power.

Although over-the-top displays were more likely to be found in poorer areas, in contrast to the US where they mainly found in middle-class suburbs, Dr Millington rubbished the notion that British families were frittering away thousands on displays.

Splurge

He said: "Most of the people I spoke with said they bought the lights in the January sales. They didn't spend that much money. There is an idea that they splurge cash they don't have but a lot of the lights are accumulated over a long period of time and handed down from family members.

"Electricity was a cost but many people were quite rigid about only keeping up the lights for the 12 days of Christmas."

Steve, a geography lecturer who specialises in social class issues, criticised recent attempts by some local authorities to clamp down on Christmas lights.

Steve spoke to families in Wythenshawe and Stretford about the motivations behind their displays.

He said: "The criticism is that these people are selfish because they are putting up bright displays but people do it out of a sense of generosity.

"They saw themselves as giving something to the community by creating a spectacle they could all enjoy. And in virtually every case, people who lived nearby did enjoy the event." Tweet