COLOURFUL displays will adorn the windows of Eastcott next week.

Households in close to 200 streets have signed up for the second Window Wanderland event, which follows a successful debut outing in 2019.

The idea for a community to transform the normally dark winter streets with an illuminated trail was coined by Lucy Reeves Khan.

The talented designer was left disabled after an accident and launched the first Wanderland in Bristol when she realised the light from houses with curtains left open made her feel better during rehabilitative walks.

Anish Harrison, the events co-ordinator for the Eastcott Community Organisation, said: “It’s taken off in Europe and America now and a local resident brought it to our attention in 2018.

“Eastcott is all about community and we thought it would be a great thing to do.”

More than 130 houses took part last year, showcasing windows with themes including Harry Potter and Aladdin.

This year is set to be even more elaborate with more than 180 already confirmed and themes ranging from space to books – and it’s still not too late to register.

The area covered by the trail expands outside Eastcott, including Euclid Street and the majority of Old Town.

The organising team have been helped by a £6,500 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund.

“We have expanded the area,” Anish told the Adver. “We want to encompass as much as we can.

“Last year was a trial and people loved the idea. It did what it said on the tin, it brought the community together.

“You would go out and people would be talking about it. People can feel isolated, it can be a hard slog after Christmas so this is a great way to bring people together.

"It’s so good for so many reasons.”

In order to prepare for the event, the organisation held a number of workshops where people could come along and make their designs with craft materials provided for them.

Anish said: “Local artists came along to help people, we provided the materials so that money wasn’t an issue for people.

“People have been really creative at the workshops so I’m not sure what we’ll see out there.

"I’ve definitely seen some based on films and books, one was even based on space. It can be as simple or as complex as you want. I’m always surprised.”

The event will be running from February 28 to March 2. More details can be found at windowwanderland.com/event/eastcott-swindon-2020/