A time for families.

Byline: By Sarah Dale Evening Gazette

Christmas is a special time to enjoy with the whole family. Sarah Dale asks people of Teesside about their best ever Christmas and finds out why it was so special.

ANNA ADDISON, 29, from Middlesbrough, runs her own PR firm Anna Addison Associates.

"Apart from when I was about seven years old and I got my first Barbie doll's house the best Christmas I have had was probably last year because all of our families were together for the first time," says Anna.

"Usually they're scattered everywhere from Canada to Dubai but last year we all had dinner at my Mum and Dad's (cooked by the two best chefs in the world - my Mum and my mother-in-law!).

"And then our friends came over for Christmas tea. It wasn't about the presents but everyone being together for a proper knees up."

PAUL ADDISON, 30, from Acklam, Middlesbrough, is the sports editor and Boro FC commentator at BBC Radio Cleveland.

"My favourite Christmas was when I was about seven or eight years old and BMX bikes were all the rage," says Paul.

"I'd asked for a bike with what were called Mag wheels and didn't expect to get one.

"I dreamed about it arriving for weeks beforehand and was so pleased when I woke up ridiculously early on Christmas morning to see the bike sitting in our living room."

STEPHEN BARKER, of Barker's Hairdressing, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, says: "My best Christmas ever was eight years ago on December 14, 1998, when I married my wife Barbara.

"We were intending to wed the week of Christmas but in order for my brother to be present it was brought forward by a week. Truly a Christmas to remember!"

ROBIN BELL, manager of Paul Smith Menswear, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, says: "This will be our best Christmas ever.

"Me and my partner Kelly will be spending our first Christmas together as a family, thanks to the arrival back in August of our daughter Ava. It will be the best Christmas ever."

SCOTT MAKIN, from Redcar, is co-presenter of Century FM's breakfast show.

"The best Christmas was always when I got a really good present when I was a kid but it's difficult to choose which one because I was a bit of a lucky boy!" says Scott.

"There was Evel Knievel, the stunt rider and his bike. I worshipped Evel and had about as many accidents on my Raleigh Grifter as he did on his Harley! Then there was Race & Chase, a kind of scalextrix, but it featured a cop car chasing a Corvette.

"But I reckon my best ever Christmas would have to be when I got my first real drum kit when I was eight. Apparently my dad was up until 5.30am trying to piece the whole thing together and just as he was heading upstairs to bed, he had to duck down because I was racing across the landing towards mum and dad's bedroom to tell them Santa had been.

"So there I was at pretty much six in the morning, whacking the bejesus out of my first real drum kit - for some reason the neighbours didn't speak to me for a while and yep, dad only got about an hour or so's sleep that Christmas - but it was the best!"

LISA SHAW is co-presenter of Century FM's breakfast show.

"My best ever Christmas was in 2002," says Lisa. "I was working Christmas Day from 10am to 2pm then raced home to spend Christmas in our new house with my boyfriend Ian.

"We sat opening our presents and one of mine was a ring. When I opened it Ian proposed and I can happily say he is now my husband!"

SARAH FARRIER, is a mum-of-three from Acklam, Middlesbrough.

"My favourite Christmas memories as a child are of spending Christmas Day at my grandma and grandad's house," says Sarah.

"All the family came, it was non-stop laughter from the time we got there till the time we left, it was fantastic, the presents came second to spending the day all together as a family."

KEITH AND PAT MOSS, from the Keith Moss Gallery in Brotton, say: "Last year was one of our best Christmases to date mainly because we spent it in the gallery for the very first time and invited all our families and a big group of friends round.

"We got rid of all of the furniture out of the gallery and put a huge table in it to seat 18 of us. We did a traditional Christmas dinner and it was an all day party really. It was lovely because it was so different to our usual Christmases which are generally very quiet."

ANTONY COLLINS is TFM's drivetime presenter:

"Growing up in Canada, I have many fond memories of Christmas and they all have something to do with snow. From building giant snow forts, to having mammoth snowball fights.

I know we get the odd bit of snow here and there across Teesside but I would suggest to all mums and dads to, at least once, take your kids to a real snow-bound country one Christmas. They'll love it!

The best part of Christmas for me now that I'm all grown up is having a wife and kids to share it with. It really brings back the festive magic you experienced when you were young."