AN entire Exeter street is becoming one big Advent Calendar for Christmas.
Portland Street, in Newtown is embracing the festive countdown which is the braincild of residents Louise Fearns and her husband Steve.
Said Louise: "Portland Street lends itself to a project like this as it is a long Victorian terrace with over a hundred houses.
"Steve and I run a design and marketing agency, Sfimedia Ltd, from our home in Portland Street and creativity and community spirit have always been important factors in our lives. We are very involved in our children's school Newtown Primary as Governor and on the PTA.
"In times gone by everyone knew everyone on this street and people's doors were always open. There were shops in the middle of the street where residents met and chatted and children played in the street, there being no cars to worry about.
"Nowadays life is very different. A large proportion of the houses are rented to students who only stay a couple of years before moving on. People don't know their neighbours anymore let alone residents who live at the other end of the street to them.
"In this project each participating house is given a date in Advent. They create a seasonal display in their sitting room window and then reveal it on their date like a giant living Advent calendar.
" Each day people can walk down the street and see a new window unveiled.
"By Christmas Eve there will be a street full of lovely scenes, lights and decorations to look at. It gives people a common interest, something to talk about with their neighbours and a sense of who lives in the street."
Louise sent a letter to everyone in Portland Street explaining the project along with a list of ideas to get people started and went door to door to encourage some of the student houses to get involved.
She said: "I soon had lots of responses from very enthusiastic people saying they couldn't wait to get started on their display.
"We now have more than 24 houses involved so on some of the days there will be two displays being revealed! Through doing this I've already met a lot of lovely people on the street and many people I know living in other streets have said how much they would like to do the same next year.
"Wouldn't it be great if it caught on?"
Come and have a look for yourselves from now until December 24 or follow the event on Facebook at www.facebook.co.uk/sfimedia as it unfolds.
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