A COUPLE and their young son are celebrating after winning a competition to add some festive sparkle to their village.
Andrew and Debbie Robson, along with three-year-old Joey, are enjoying their first Christmas on the new Castle Croft estate, in Startforth, after moving across the Tees from Barnard Castle earlier this year.
They added a few extra decorations and illuminations to their new home and entered the Startforth Sparkles competition, run by the village’s parish council.
Mrs Robson said they heard about the contest via the Castle Croft residents’ social media channels and decided to enter.
The couple said they always liked to add some Christmas decorations and illuminations to their home but this year they had “made more of a fuss about it” .
Their efforts caught the eye of judge Debbie Herbert, who awarded them first prize.
They received a £50 Morrisons voucher from Pat Estall, chairman of Startforth Parish Council.
Cllr Estall said given the ongoing circumstances, the competition – now in its second year – had attracted a good number of entries.
He said he was encouraged that this year’s top three were from residents who had not entered last time.
He also thanked Mrs Herbert for carrying out the judging.
