A PENSIONER affectionately known as Mr Christmas has once again adorned his home in Croxley Green with thousands of festive lights for charity.
Dave Edwards, 77, has been illuminating his Lancing Way property, known locally as the Christmas House, for more than 30 years, raising an impressive £30,000 for good causes including the Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre in Northwood, and Hertfordshire Air Ambulance.
Hundreds of residents gathered at Mr Edwards' home to see this year's dazzling display - including brightly coloured elves, reindeer, snowmen and Santa Claus' - switched on by Paul Lyalls, the first poet to perform at the new Wembley Stadium.
The decorations will stay up until Twelfth Night, according to tradition.
Mr Edwards, a father-of-two with two grandchildren, was inspired to start the tradition in 1978 after a holiday to Florida.
With the help of his family, including his wife, Carol, he spends two weeks every year putting the decorations on the roof, porch and garden, and insists he will continue as long as he can still climb a ladder.
This year, all proceeds will go to Great Ormond Street Hospital and Bard-Aid, an organisation that provides poetry books for secondary schools.
Mrs Edwards said: "Children really love the Christmas House, which is one of the reasons we chose charities which are specifi-cally focused on helping them.
"We usually raise about £3,000 each year and hope we can collect even more. Once again, we would like to thank everyone for their support."
