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Annual festive display lights up home for charity

BBC The Hedges family home in Gillingham festooned with lights and Christmas decorations.BBC
The Hedges family home in Gillingham has become a festive tourist attraction

A family in Kent have turned their house into a Christmas tourist attraction with thousands of lights and a Disney theme.

Lavinia Hedges said her family had been working their magic on their Gillingham home for the past four years.

"We are going for a classic Disney Christmas this year," she told the BBC.

The temporary attraction also raises money for local children's cancer charity, My Shining Star.

A large Mickey Mouse Disney Christmas decoration.
The theme for 2024's decorations is Walt Disney characters

In the four years the Hedges family have been putting on their display, they have raised over £35,000 for the charity, Ms Hedges said.

"They are a local charity around the corner from us and they do fantastic work," she said.

A selection of Christmas decorations standing outside the house.
The Christmas display raises money for children's cancer charity, My Shining Star

Ms Hedges, who planned and organised the display, said the support from the community had been "amazing", with a local company having installed lights at the top of the property.

"People come from all over Kent to see it and to just keep getting those memories," she added.

Some Christmas decorations seen inside the house, in a heavily-decorated window.
It takes a week to put up the 4,000 Christmas decorations
A giant reindeer's head taking centre stage in a group of Christmas decorations.
Bambi is one of the featured Disney characters

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