Mary Whitcher lights up home in Coblands Avenue, Totton, for Make A Wish UK, with Kyle Ross in Spinney Way, New Milton, raising money for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance

TWO New Forest residents are spreading Christmas cheer with impressive home light shows for charity.

In New Milton, Kyle Ross has around 14,000 lights on his Spinney Way property, which are sequenced to music.

Kyle, who is raising money for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, explained: “We have approximately 14,000 lights on the house. We buy these in strings of 100 and then push them into the coro props [corrugated plastic] to create the different lights.

“Each LED must be pushed into the correct position so the computer program knows where to send which colour. Mounting all the props on the house is the quick part of the hobby. This takes me about four to five good days, weather permitting.”

This will be the third year he had decorated his home, with displays set to run from Friday 13th until Sunday 15th December between 6pm and 7.30pm and again from Friday 20th until Tuesday 24th during the same times.

“We chose the air ambulance as they solely rely on charity to save the lives other wouldn't be able to, due to time and being able to get to remote places fast”, he explained.

Donations can be made this year by cash in a bucket outside the home or via a contactless card reader.

Meanwhile in Totton, Mary Whitcher has spent months getting her house in Coblands Avenue, Totton, ready for the festive season. She has previously raised money for Oakhaven following the death of her brother, Kenny.

Dubbed the Santa Christmas Lights Party, this year she has chosen Make A Wish UK, which supports children who are critically ill.

The lights – which she started putting up in August – are turned on each evening between 5pm and 9pm until 1st January.

This year Mary has secured sponsorship from local businesses including Aamnah’s Indian Kitchen, event host company Cocktails and Canapes, Steve Harris from The Stag pub in Lyndhurst and Wayne Shaw of Sholing FC.

She told the A&T: “We decided to fundraise for Make A Wish as we know several children that have had wishes granted by them and we wanted to help more children with critical conditions and long-term illness have their wishes granted.

“We have been battered by two storms, but each time we have managed to get all the lights back working.”

So far Mary has raised over £900. To donate visit www.justgiving.com/page/mary-whitcher-1704550730917