Tim lighting up Wood Lane with Christmas charity display

The 17-year-old started his Christmas lights display when he was 14 and has been building it up year on year - as well as raising a tidy sum for charity, which was a goal he wanted to achieve as the family had been lighting up their garden for a number of years previously.

Last year Tim raised a total of £1,013 with the display dedicated to the memory of family friend Andrew Wilson and raising money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

This year’s display will also be raising money for the cancer charity and Tim hopes to at least equal last year’s total.

The 2015 display will be launched on November 28 with Santa Claus pushing the button at 7pm.

Tim has been planning the display since January and working over the past four weeks - and battling the weather - to create the display which will feature an approximately 15 foot megatree.

A variety of plastic moulded features have taken up residence on a ‘stage’ in the front garden of Tim’s family home at 45 Wood Lane. Upwards of 50 features will be on display including a Santa’s workshop scene, choir scene and a nativity scene. Tim said: “I’ve been setting up since late October after ten months of planning, to make sure it will all be ready for the launch date.”

He was also nominated for an award as a result of his appeal: “I’m going to London for the event organised by the ‘#iwill campaign’ run by Step Up to Serve.

“After the success of last year’s appeal I was nominated by one of the visitors to the display. I’m going to be meeting an unnamed VIP guest on November 24.”

Tim added: “I was very pleased that I had been nominated, it has encouraged me to make the display even bigger and go a step further than last year.”

Over the past three years Tim has grown into his passion: “It has taught me quite a lot of electrical and DIY skills. All the wiring takes the vast majority of five-six days to complete.”

Indeed proof positive of Tim’s commitment - and that of his family - is the fact the display now has its own dedicated power supply.

Tim said: “We got a new electrical supply put in this year dedicated to the lights - that’s how you know you’re running a big display.”

The display will run until New Year’s Eve from 4.30pm to 10pm each night.

Santa will also be visiting the display on December 22 so children can meet him and get in those last minute requests.

For updates see the facebook page www.facebook.com/timschristmaslights

To make a donation visit his Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/timslights or leave a donation in the large donation box on site at the display.