Bereaved couple light up street in memory of son

A bereaved couple in Kent have lit up their street with more than 100,000 Christmas lights in memory of their son.

Ross and Michelle Clark's son, Jack, was born premature and died in 2002 at the age of 21 weeks.

Mr Clark said the tradition began by lighting a candle on what would have been Jack's birthday, and over the years it has transformed into a winter wonderland outside their home in Boughton-under-Blean, near Canterbury.

"It started as one light shining into the sky, as we called him our little angel in the sky," he said.

Each year, the display, which this year features more than 100,000 lights and 3,000 ornaments, is illuminated on 24 November. Mr Clark told BBC Radio Kent that the preparations start in September.

"The smiles and laughter on the little kids' faces is unbelievable," Mr Clark said.

"I go outside and see people all the time, but if I'm indoors, all I can hear is the little kids running up and down laughing and screaming. It's all about putting a smile on their faces."

The display, in Colonels Lane, also features a memory tree which offers visitors the chance to reminiscence about loved ones who have passed away.

"When you read the messages, you just want to cry," Mr Clark said.

The couple are also raising money for the Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust – a charity which offers specialist equipment for premature babies.

They say by using low-wattage LED lights they have not seen a huge increase in running costs over the years.

"All of the lights you see in our garden, if I put the kettle on, it'd be more than them lights put together," Mr Clark added.

"My smart metre is still sitting in the green, even with all those lights on."

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