A splendid display of Christmas lights are on show in Catteshall Lane, where Richard Atkinson is raising money for The Meath in this, his seventh and final year of collecting cash for local charities.

Electrician Richard has been delighting visitors and passers-by with his festive lights for a long time, but this will be his final display, as he plans to move house next year.

This year he is raising cash for The Meath, which has benefited from the donations for two of the previous years: the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance were Richard's chosen recipients last year, and the Terence Higgins Trust and Shooting Star Chase have also benefited from visitors' donations.

Richard told Nub News the festive display has grown over the years.

"The lights started with one string when I was about 10," he said.

"They have been up in one form or another for 30-odd years and have got bigger and bigger each year. I bought a few more sets and put some round the windows – and then I started making custom display boards."

The display takes him three weekends to put up.

Several years ago it started attracting attention from passers-by, as well as people who went out of their way to visit.

"They cost so much to do each year and take so much time and effort I decided to do it for something worthwhile," he said.

So he got the charities involved – and they have been very appreciative of his efforts.

"I've raised a few thousand pounds over the years," Richard said.

The lights have their own Facebook page, and even their own website, at www.lights.charity, where people can donate direct to the year's chosen cause.

Anyone who would like to donate their spare change can add it to the bucket out front, or notes can be put into the Gift Aid envelopes that Richard has placed in a holder by the front door, and then dropped through the letterbox. Filling in the details on the envelope means Richard can claim Gift Aid on the donation, which can make it worth 25% more.

Richard is hoping to end his long tradition of illuminating the neighbourhood by handing over a sizeable donation to The Meath.

"This the last one, so we are trying to make it the biggest and best display, and hopefully raise the most money with it all," he says.

The lights will be on every day until the end of the year, from 4pm to 11pm at Richard's house in Catteshall Lane, almost opposite Weyside Park.

Do you have an amazing display of festive lights? Are you collecting for charity? Let us know, we'd love to feature your display too!