Family's festive scene lights up home for charity

A family has unveiled their annual Christmas light spectacle to raise money for charity.

The Barnard family started decorating their house and garden with multi-coloured lights and inflatable Christmas characters in September.

The festive display, which opens to the public in Westbrook Avenue, Aldridge on Saturday, also features three light displays previously used at the Walsall Illuminations.

Nick Barnard, a retired electrician and wife Julie, have been lighting up their home for charities since 1988 and this year, donations made by visitors will go to Acorns Children's Hospice in Walsall.

Their son Ben, who is also an electrician, has offered a helping hand, drawing and painting festive scenes onto wooden boards that are placed around the garden.

"Everything you can get, we've got", said Nick, but it does take a "joint effort" to get all the decorations in place.

Mrs Barnard said they have had extravagant decorations for so many years now, it would be strange not to.

Despite the house being covered in bright lights, Mr Barnard is not worried about the electricty bill as they mainly use LED lights which "don't cost much".

Visitor donations reached £1,700 in 2023 and the family hope to raise even more this year.

Wendy Morton, Conservative Party MP for Aldridge Brownhills, will visit the house on Saturday at 18:30 GMT to officially open the display.

The public are then welcome to visit the festive scene every evening from 18:00 to 20:00, until Christmas Eve.

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