A COUPLE have kept up a family tradition of lighting up Picket Twenty Way with a Christmas lights display, this year for a cause close to their hearts.

Phil and Vicky Bowman are raising money for Survivors of Bereavement By Suicide (SOBS) from their winter wonderland which spans across two houses.

The couple has called the charity a ‘lifesaver’ for helping them cope with the grief of losing someone close to them who took his own life in February.

They attend monthly meetings at SOBS in Winchester, which is run by volunteers who have also experienced bereavement by suicide, and gives them the chance to speak to others going through the same process, learn and support each other.

Phil said: “I wasn’t going to do the lights because I thought it would be too painful, but I put it out there and people said ‘you bring so much joy to children’s faces’.

“SOBS were also saying ‘you are strong enough, we will help you through’. They even came to see the lights.

“Without SOBS, I don’t know where we would be.”

Since the lights went on December 1, the Bowmans have raised nearly £1,000 for SOBS, which relies entirely on donations.

Most of the donations Phil says are from people the family don’t even know, and they have tried to track people down on social media to say thank you. One anonymous donor sent £250.

The 51-year-old added: “Nearly 50 people have donated already.

“We both had a tear the other day - a woman came to the door with four children to donate in person because they said it was more personal than JustGiving. They gave £1.50 each because that is their month’s pocket money.”

The couple also spotted a total of 11 cars queueing up to take photos of the display one evening, and have entered the ITV show This Morning’s competition of Britain’s best Christmas lights. To donate go to justgiving.com and search for ‘Picket Twenty Way Christmas Lights’.