A FAMILY in Morecambe, Lancashire, the U.K., have erected one of the country’s largest Christmas lights display.

Jeremy and Mandy Voakes have set up 150,000 bulbs which use a whopping 16,000 watts of power. The couple started preparing the dazzling display around four months ago.

The twinkling trees, light-up nativity scene and Santa Claus with his sleigh are all so bright that they are used by RAF pilots who pick out the lights as a navigational marker along the Cumbria coast.

But it’s not just a whimsy festive treat. The Voakes have raised 20,000 pounds (US$26,654) over the years for their local children’s charity NSPCC. This year, they’ve raised 1,238 pounds and hope to raise more.

Jeremy and Mandy also enlist the help of their children to untangle yards of wires and bulbs. It certainly takes the family a while to set up – with one tree alone being decorated with 10,000 bulbs. And all that doesn’t come cheap – the electricity costs 2.50 pounds a minute.

This year, the family is also honoring NHS staff for their tremendous efforts during the coronavirus pandemic. Illuminating rainbows can be seen all over the property to honor health-care providers. The whole thing is a team effort as it takes the family two months to unpack the festive bulbs.

Putting all the lights together usually takes another month, with Jeremy being occupied with the items for up to 26 days while Mandy works on them for 20.

To get it ready for the first of December, the couple usually begin in October. Another two to three months are spent packing them all together once Christmas has come and gone.

Veterinarian Jeremy said he’s always loved Christmas and had extra motivation to set it all up this year. “I am probably obsessed,” Jeremy said. “Everybody has had such a tough year this year because of the pandemic that we thought: Why not try to put a smile on everyone’s face?”

Mandy added that she’s grown accustomed to Jeremy’s love of all things Christmas over the years. “He loves doing it. Just when I think we’re finished, he’ll go into the garage and fetch another box of lights and I’ll think, ‘Oh, no, there’s more to go!,’” she said.

(SD-Agencies)