THE festive season is, sadly, well behind us now.

Throughout January, people have been taking down their festive decorations, reluctantly resigning themselves to the fact that, for another year at least, Christmas is finished.

For a Portishead hair and beauty salon, however, the season of giving isn't quite over.

As the Portishead Christmas Lights Committee packed away the last of their 2022 festive bulbs, Tonic Hair and Beauty presented them with a cheque for £250.

The salon also launched a campaign to buy 100 bulbs for the committee, which is composed entirely of volunteers and relies on grants and donations from the local community to finance the much-loved annual display.

People love them so much that they have been voted as the Best in the West for Christmas Lights. According to their website, the Portishead Christmas Lights now represent a ‘Golden Mile’ of festive cheer, running through the High Street and now extending up West Hill and the Waitrose Piazza. 

Simone Williams, who runs the Combe Road salon with her sister Nadine, said: “Portishead is so lucky to have such a fantastic Christmas lights display and as a local business we wanted to demonstrate our support.

"We launched a buy a bulb initiative, inviting our staff, clients and any visitors to the salon to buy a bulb for £1 and once we hit the 100 bulbs, everyone who had donated was entered in to a free draw to win a Tonic wash and blow dry.”

Volunteers turn out in all weathers to help put the lights up and take them down each year and remain on call throughout December to keep the display maintained.

It is estimated that over 100 volunteers work tirelessly, so that, come Christmas, the local community will have a beautiful, family-friendly display to marvel at.

Nadine added: “Our clients, friends and team members raised £209 for the lights in the salon and we were happy to top that up to £250. Thank you to everyone who supported this initiative and to the volunteers who make the magic happen each year. We, like most Portishead residents, are very proud of our festive illuminations.”

To find out more about Portishead Christmas Lights, the volunteers and how your donation can really help, visit their website.