Bob and Pat Stevens have been doing Santa's work for over five years and have done much to sprinkle festive cheer over Addiscombe and its children.

Their house in Kingscote Road has been attracting attention every Christmas for years and the couple are as rosy-cheeked as Santa himself when they talk about their gloriously decorated home.

Mr Stevens said: "I can't take all the credit, my wife and I both do it for the children. I do the lighting and my wife does the window display.''

The front of their home is covered in hundreds of twinkling lights and ornaments. Their window display is full of tinkling toys ready to deliver a tune, ho ho ho or simply sway their hips like a dancing Santa.

Mr Stevens said: "I know what it costs. I'm not interested in doing this to break some kind of record.

"I couldn't anyway, there's a person down in Bristol who has 10,000 lights on his house."

Mr Stevens didn't want to discuss the number of lights and ornaments on his home but admitted his festive duties stretched further than meets the eye.

"I'm Father Christmas for three different creches in the area.

"On December 19, I had a creche full of children who came into the house to see Father Christmas.

"I give sweets to all the children when they come and I never know how much I will be taking on during the season."

Addiscombe resident Claire Shore said: "They're such a lovely couple.

"My little girl thinks their house is where Father Christmas stays when he's in town delivering presents. She thinks he keeps all his toys in their window."

The great grandparents are used to inviting excited kids into their front garden to admire the lights and window display more closely.

They are used to cars slowing down in front of their house and passengers jumping out to take photographs.

They are even used to small smiling faces peering into their front room to get a better look at the Addiscombe grotto containing Mr and Mrs Claus.

What they have been unprepared for over the years is the lengths a desperate thief will go to for cash.

Mr Stevens said: "We used to collect money for Guys childrens hospital but two years ago our charity bucket was stolen so we stopped.

"I have to take everything inside at night because people keep nicking them."

The retired chef is a popular lollipop man on Blackhorse Road and has been married to Pat for 38 years.

He added: "I'm not a Christian. My wife and I just think the spirit of Christmas is lost through greed.

"I'm concerned about the true meaning of Christmas which I think is love and family. All this Christmas commercialism doesn't mean a thing.

"The first year I was a lollipop man, I got a lot of bad words from people but now I've gained the respect of the children on the crossing. It's all about how you treat people.''

When asked what he would say to his critics who may consider his house an eyesore he said: "This is for the community. I don't give a damn about what anybody says. I do it for the children and I get great pleasure out of it."

And does he think Father Christmas has anything to worry about? "As far as I'm concerned there's no competition. My wife and I have already outshone him."

December 18, 2001 10:00