An amazing Christmas light display that attracted visitors from across the region has raised more than £12,000 for charity.
It is the second year that Amanda and Rob Dempsey decorated their home and garden at Turves with thousands of lights and the pair expected to raise around £2,000 like last year.
But after getting mass media coverage the attraction, which had people travelling from as far away as Great Yarmouth, the fund raising went beyond their anticipation - reaching a grand total of £12,430.
Visitors still managed to find the remote spot despite thieves stealing two specially made directional signs a week before Christmas and on one night the cars queued back for a mile waiting to see the display.
Rob said: “I spent the year buying lights from ebay to make the display bigger. At the right time you can pick up some great bargains. My best buy was when I filled a long wheel base van with lights from a tourist attraction near Gatwick Airport for £300.
“We were shocked by how many people came. We had to have a team of volunteer helpers every night to help direct traffic and set up a one-way system.
“It is a real shame that somebody decided to take our signs, but thankfully people still managed to find us.”
The couple raised more than £9,000 from donations to Cancer Research UK and then Barclays Bank donated a further £3,000 to top up the total.
Now the season has ended the lights and nativity display have been lovingly packed away and safely stored in a purpose built shed ready for next year’s display.
The couple sent a big thank you to Sue Ellen Bedford, Zoe Turner, Adele and neighbours Paul Sue and Lin as well as Amanda’s sister Sharon Holt.
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