A BEREAVED husband is continuing a Christmas tradition in memory of his wife.

Seth Vafiadis has been busy putting the finishing touches to a spectacular display of festive lights on the outside of his house in Wood End Green Road, Hayes, in time for the official switch-on on December 1.

Mr Vafiadis's wife, Androulla, was affectionately known in the local area as Mrs Christmas, having made the displays an annual eye-catching event that had even generated stories in the national press.

The family collects donations each year, and more than £5,000 has been raised for Great Ormond Street in the years that the lights have been up.

Mrs Vafiadis died in February after a year-long battle with cancer, and Mr Vafiadis said this first Christmas without his wife would be difficult.

"It has been strange putting up the lights without her.

"It was something we did as a family, and I was seriously considering skipping it this year, but Androulla would have wanted us to keep on going. Besides, it has kept me busy and helped to take my mind off things.

"Last year we didn't do it for obvious reasons - my wife was terminal, and it was a really tough time for all of us."It was because of her that we started doing it in the first place, and it is fitting that we continue with it, in her memory."

This year's display has about 5,000 lights and a memorial star as the centrepiece. The money raised this year will go towards the Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre and Michael Sobell House, both at Mount Vernon Hospital, where Mrs Vafiadis was cared for during her illness, and Great Ormond Street Hospital for children.

The couple had been married for 16 years and have a daughter, 13-year-old Sophie.

Mr Vafiadis added: "It was Androulla who first suggested the idea, and she took the lead when it came to raising money for charity. She was always giving something back.

"Androulla was such a strong character. She was someone who would stick her neck out for anyone - for a lot of our friends, she was the first person they went to if they were going through a tough time.

"A huge gap has been left in the family and in the community. I will never find another woman like Androulla - we all miss her so much."