Electric wonderland lights up the north Watford night sky (From Watford Observer)

Electric wonderland lights up the north Watford night sky

9:30pm Saturday 28th November 2009

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Take a look inside Paul Ellis' garden shed and the sight is almost as dazzling as the view from the pavement of his north Watford home.

Ninety-four plugs and rows of cables, neatly ordered and individually labelled, reveal the work he and his wife Jane undertook throughout November to attach dozens of decorations to their home.

And tonight, the fruits of their labour were unveiled in front of about 100 people who gathered in Summerfield Road as Paul pushed the switch that lit an array of colourful lights.

The bulbs mounted to the walls were accompanied by a snow machine and the inflatated figures of Homer Simpson, Scooby Doo, Tigger, Bugs Bunny and a pair of Santa-suited polar bears.

Paul, who was also celebrating his 17th wedding anniversary with Jane today, said: “We just enjoy it. We worry about the electric bill in February.”

It was when Paul, Jane and their daughter Kirsty, 15, moved to their home in Summerfield Road in 2000 that Paul first added lights to his home.

He said: “We lived in a flat before and my daughter said she wanted Christmas lights on the house. We did it for charity and it has grown to this.

“The neighbours love it. They're really supportive. People change the way they walk to pass by.

“I still think there's scope [for more]. I always manage to put something extra up every year.”

This year the family are raising money for the Armed Forces charity Help For Heroes as Paul has a cousin who has served with the Royal Air Force in Afghanistan. They hope to raise more than £500.

Paul, a contract manager for a commercial building company, said: “I'm a strong believer in giving something back every year and this is my way of giving something back.”

The lights will be switched on every night from 5pm until 10pm, running until January 6.

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