A HOME Christmas lights show featuring nearly 10,000 lights has attracted visitors from all over town to raise much needed funds for a life saving charity.

Known as the London Road Lights, the show wows audiences with lights shows choregraphed to music.

Hosts and organisers Graham and Sharon Smitheman have become well known in the community for the annual event.

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And the Wickford residents yet again thrilled audiences with their amazing light and snow show, raising funds for the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance charity.

Mrs Smitheman said: “We would like to thank everyone who has visited our lights and sound display and for all the donations.

“It isn't all about raising funds and awareness for the amazing lifesaving charity Essex and Herts Air Ambulance, it is also about putting smiles in our community.

“We hope the display continues to spread joy and happiness throughout this festive season.”

The residents of Wickford return each Christmas for the spectacular light and music show, which this year included Queen Elsa – a fictional character in Disney’s Frozen movie franchise – supplied by a Wickford-based princess for hire company.

Almost 10,000 lights, programmed individually on a PC, go into creating the light show, along with a smoke machine and two speakers to complete the set up.

It takes the Smithemans almost the whole year to plan and build the light show, with work starting to build the fittings and props as early as March.

It then takes a solid 16 hours of labour to set up every light on their home.

Neil Bradley, a Wickford resident and guest at last weekend’s launch event, said: “Every year the show gets more and more impressive, this is becoming a bit of a Christmas tradition for me and my family.

“Not only is this great for the community but they are also raising much needed funds for a local charity. Well done guys.”

Mrs Smitheman added: “Since our light switch on event we have raised £161.22.

“That takes our total for this year to an amazing £412.83.”

Essex and Herts Air Ambulance does not receive regular government funding and is reliant on community fundraising and donations.