BERRIDALE Lions Club had such a hard time judging its third annual Christmas lights competition that it decided to award a prize to all of the 25 or so families who lit up their houses for Christmas.

Lions secretary, Iain Schofield, said club members had travelled in convey around the village on December 16 to judge the Light Up Berridale competition and found their task impossible.

"There were more lights than in the past two years and the displays were so good that we couldn't choose first, second and third," he said.

"So we decided to distribute the prizemoney and bottles of wine to all of those deserving residents, along with a Christmas card thanking them for lighting up Berridale."

Although the club had advertised the competition, residents didn't need to enter. Rather, Lions members travelled around every Berridale street to judge the displays.

"People are saying thank you very much and we think we will make it bigger next year," Mr Schofield said.

"We started it two years ago to try to encourage community spirit for Christmas, put a bit of cheer around. Lots of people were travelling around the village looking at the lights.

"Some go to great lengths to put on a good display, not for the competition but for the community spirit."

Lions members then returned to the houses on the Thursday and Friday nights before Christmas to hand out the prizes.