CHARITY begins at home – especially, it seems, when the homes in question have more than a bit of sparkle to offer.

What began as a bit of festive fun for residents in Greyhound Close in Hedge End each Christmas is turning into an administrative nightmare that threatens to pull the plug on not just the annual lights display but thousands of pounds raised for charity.

The problem is not the home owners, who each year foot the huge bill for electricity to light up their homes themselves, but errant drivers who cause traffic mayhem and ruin grass verges.

Last year alone the bill for the clean up to Eastleigh Borough Council stood at £10,000, money that could be better spent elsewhere in the borough.

Now the council is asking the residents to use some money donated by visitors to their display to offset the cost of traffic management. Residents say this is not in the spirit of giving.

Both sides in the debate would appear to have a point.

Hopefully, however this debate – it is not yet a dispute – will not lead to the lights going out. Surely some money raised for charity is better than none at all, this paper points out.

The spirit of Christmas is about giving to others.

Residents are setting a wonderful example with their display but should realise the result of their generous efforts should not lead to others in the borough going without.