AN East Lancashire family has gone all out with the Christmas decorations to raise money in memory of a loved one.
Michael Gough, 57, has decorated his home with more than 70 sets of lights - a Christmas extravaganza the Hyndburn community looks forward to each year.
Scores of people filled Limewood Close home in Accrington to see the Gough family switch on their dazzling display for the eleventh year in a row.
The family collect donations for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of Mr Gough's mother, who died from cancer seven years ago.
The father-of-two said the display adds around £100 to his electricity bill in December and takes around four weeks to put up.
He said: “The switch-on went very well and there was more than 30 people from nearby who turned up.
“They all said they enjoyed it and they got the chance to have a free cup of warm soup mince, pies and sweets for the children.
“We put up a few more lights this year and there was a bit more of a variety.
“On the night we raised about £40 for Macmillan Cancer Support, which we hope will raise to more than £500 by the end of the month.”
The event has raised thousands of pounds for the charity with more than £5,000 being raised in the last two years alone.
Mr Gough’s mother died from cancer seven years ago which is what originally inspired him to boost his display for charity.
This year buckets were on hand to allow people to donate and there was a banner to promote the charity.
Mr Gough said: “It’s great to put the lights up each year and it’s great to see people come to watch it.
“People come from all over to see the lights.
“I’ve had people from the all over East Lancashire asking when they are going up.
“Last year there were even people from down south who came to see them.
“It started just doing them for my grandchildren and it kept on going, and now I’ve got five grandchildren."
The engineering company worker previously used to display lights in Avenue Parade, Accrington.
The lights will be illuminated for all to see until the end of the month.
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