In Pictures: Festive lights spread welcome cheer as UK steps into Christmas

Colourful creations have been brightening locations up and down the country.

Passengers on a bus travel under Christmas lights on Oxford Street in central London (Dominic Lipinski/PA) (PA Wire)

Festive light displays have been spreading welcome cheer across the UK and Ireland in the run-up to Christmas this year.

As uncertainty around the Omicron coronavirus variant looms large over the festive season, creative types have been working their magic designing winter wonderlands to lift the nation’s spirits.

Here are some of the highlights.

Residents on Byron Road in New Milton have raised more than £85,000 for charities since they started displaying festive illuminations more than 15 years ago.

Lots of light displays are created to raise funds for worthy causes, with the NHS the recipient of the proceeds of this year’s Byron Road extravaganza.

Nico Martin, from Bracknell has covered his own Mini in lights for the last two years to raise money for the MS Trust and Duchenne UK.

This year Mini bosses are supporting Mr Martin, providing him with a Mini Electric wrapped in thousands of Christmas lights ready for him to take out on the road.