Christmas arrives at the Summer House

It's an annual tradition - and a sign that Christmas is just around the corner.

When The Summer House pub transforms itself into a snow-filled grotto, you know that it won't be long before the rest of the Black Country dusts off the fairy lights.

This year landlord John Coombes has pulled out all the stops, turning the Sedgley pub into a fantasy world where flakes fall at a turn of a switch and Santa arrives on his sleigh with the polar express pulling presents.

The Gospel End pub hosts the annual charity display each winter. Mr Coombes also took the helm of the nearby White Lion Inn, in Bilston Street, earlier this year and has covered that in decorations as well.

The grandfather-of-two said the two pubs decked out for a crazy Christmas would hopefully raise a smile for regulars and passers-by.

"Everyone is feeling a bit down with the recession but if these lights put a smile on a kid's face or raise a laugh then that's the least we can do," said Mr Coombes, aged 56.

"We did think at one stage about scaling back the display this year with the current climate but then we get so much support that it began to be more and more important to go a bit further. We'd love to create a buzz about Sedgley and get more people into the town.

"By having the two pubs dressed up with lights, we'd hope to get other businesses involved and bring more people into the area."

More than 7,000 bulbs adorn The Summer House after Mr Coombes and Pauline, his wife of 14 years, began planning the display way back in January. This year's new additions on

The Summer House include a handcrafted £300 wooden sleigh on the pub roof with Santa delivering presents. White picket fencing is also laid out around the front of the pub with a £900 fake snow machine bellowing out flakes to cover the entrance.

Around £20,000 has been raised for Compton Hospice through the annual lights display, which has been a festive fixture for more than a decade.

This year's theme at The Summer House is Santa's train station.

The lights cost only £15 a week to power due to energy-saving LED bulbs.