Christmas lights up for South Shields Halloween blaze victim

A man left devastated when his charity Halloween display was torched says he has been inspired to switch on his annual Christmas illuminations as he did not want to disappoint children in the area.

Stan Yanetta has been lighting up his home in South Shields for more than 15 years, raising thousands of pounds.

But in October, CCTV footage showed a man wearing a balaclava pour an accelerant over his Halloween decorations.

Flames then spread to nearby properties, with Mr Yanetta saying he felt he had “just lost everything” and was unlikely to stage his usual Christmas display.

But speaking to the BBC on Monday, he explained he had since had a change of thinking.

“It was the night before Halloween. It was horrendous,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I lost all heart.

“But I’ve spoken to young kids since then. They all love seeing the lights and that’s changed my mind.”

Mr Yanetta’s efforts are raising money for three organisations – animal charity Pawz for Thought, newborn-baby charity Tiny Lives Trust and SURT: Stopping Unsafe Relationships Together.

Fellow Heaton Gardens resident Zoe Davison said the annual displays “bring the community together”.

She said: “It’s great that it’s back. The kids were devastated when they heard about the fire and thought it wasn’t going ahead.

“Stan makes Christmas for us. I have family who live in Wales and every year they try to make it up just to see the lights.”