Thousands of people descended on a residential street to watch the Christmas lights being turned on at a family's semi-detached home - by Torvill and Dean.  

Tony and Wendy Swift have been turning their property into a dazzling Winter wonderland featuring half a million lights to raise money for charity for the last 22 years.



But they were left gobsmacked when the ice-skating legends agreed to come along to switch on the spectacular light display for the final time on Sunday (15/11).

The couple begin putting up their festive display in the summer in preparation of welcoming up to 30,000 people a year to their semi-detached home in Nuthall, Notts.

But they have now decided to call it a day after raising a staggering £250,000 for charity over the last two decades.

And they bowed out in style when around 6,000 people gathered on on Laurel Crescent to see the Olympic gold medallists switch on their lights.

Tony, 66, said: "If someone said to me that 22 years ago we'd have Torvill and Dean in our kitchen, I'd think you were barmy. "

"Just remember it's a semi-detached property so to have Torvill and Dean, who are Nottingham's most famous people, is amazing. "

"We feel very honoured as they are legends not only in Nottingham but across Britain. "

"We wanted our final year to be memorable and I feel like we've done just that"

"Once they actually turned on my stomach felt instantly better as there's always the worry they won't work. "

"The night was magical, they both took the time and effort to see us."

"They sat down and had a cup of tea with us. One of my wife's friends made a cake with ice skating figures. "

"We're involved with the When You Wish Upon a Star charity. The lady who runs it, Barbara White who founded it, knew Torvill and Dean were following us on social media."

"She asked them and they jumped at it, we really appreciate it."

"We gave them a drink and what not, they were over the moon for it. They stayed a lot longer than we expected and had pictures with people."

"We still didn't believe it until they put the video on that they were coming. "

"To go out on our last year with Torvill and Dean is amazing. They're legends and they're so down to earth."

"The only reason we are stopping is because we said we would do when we reached £250,000. "

"We think that is a good amount and it takes up a lot of our time. I started putting up this year's display in June."

"We feel like now is the right time to bow out."

Over the last two decades, the pair have raised more than a quarter of a million pounds for Hayward House Hospice in Nottingham and the When You Wish Upon a Star charity.

Each year around 30,000 people turn up over the festive season to visit the incredible display, which takes over their entire home and garden.

The site also includes a grotto and an onsite shop, where visitors can buy mince pies, mulled wine and Christmas gifts.

Tony and his son Adam, 33, spend several weeks kitting out the family home with over £9,000 worth of decorations.

Retired enforcement officer Tony added: "We lost my father-in-law to cancer in 2003 and he used to go to Hayward House and what they did there was brilliant."

"Someone suggested doing the lights to raise money for Hayward House and it went from there."

"You get your regulars who come from near and far afield and we just enjoy doing it - it has become a Christmas tradition for a lot of people."

Michelle Dorman, senior community fundraising manager at Nottingham Hospitals Charity, said: "We're so grateful to the Swift family for the fantastic amount of effort they put into organising the Nuthall Christmas Lights every year. "

"They have raised a phenomenal amount of money for Hayward House over the years, which has helped to fund things like complementary therapy, counselling sessions and art activities for patients with progressive and terminal illnesses, including those at the end of their lives."

"We'd like to say a huge thank you to Tony, Wendy and Adam for all their support over the past 22 years."