For two consecutive years now Moree Plains Shire Council and Tanya Fitch, admin of the Moree Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Facebook page, have teamed up to run the competition.

This year there were 12 entrants for the shire and more than 400 voters who chose their favourite light display by liking the individual pictures on the Facebook page.

Wayne and Michelle Tucker won first place, with Tracey and Richard Wells in a close second.

It was Wayne’s hand-made Ferris wheel, which he started building in June, that dazzled local light lookers.

“We’ve been putting up lights for more than 25 years, but cut back a bit when our children got older. Now we have grandchildren that has motivated us to get back into it,” Wayne said.

Usually, it takes the Tuckers a day to erect their display, but Wayne admitted it was less motivating taking them down after Christmas.

For second placed Tracey and Richard, they were also motivated to start the Christmas light tradition because of their children.

“We started with a set of eight party lights when our daughter was born. Now, 27 years later we have a grandson to help put up the lights,” Tracey said.

In third place was Melanie Yeatman, who has been hanging Christmas lights for the past four years since moving to Moree.

“I have two young kids and I think it is a lot of fun for them, and for the town,” she said.

Ms Fitch said next year’s competition will have a whole new structure and invited the whole shire to start thinking about their 2018 display.

“I want to thank Moree Plains Shire Council for their support and sponsorship, and all the entrants and for those who took the time to vote,” she said.