No holds barred for Christmas

Festive riot: The McManus house in Ballymurphy

Seeing is believing at the McManus house and if you are anywhere near Ballymurphy in west Belfast it is hard to miss.

For the last four years the family have been lighting up the area and their glowing, flashing and glittering house has become a bit of tradition.

Thomas McManus: "We do it just because we enjoy Christmas"

There are always plenty of visitors - some from as far away as Donegal - as well as from closer to home.

It takes three weeks to put the finery up. The McManus's spend all year scouring the shops for something new for the house.

Inside, the family have lost count of their Santas, and they say they could not put a figure on their electricity bill.

The McManus's have lost count of the number of Santas they have inside

Thomas McManus said: "We all love Christmas. We always have. We started to do the inside first, but then we saw stuff for the outside, so we started doing the outside and it has gradually just got bigger and bigger and bigger."

The neighbours seem to appreciate it. One said: "When you see the house you know Christmas is here.

"It gives the full effect. I don't think anything else could, once you see this house with all the lights and the Santas. It's unbelievable."