Family cover their house with hundreds of Christmas lights in four-day operation to spread festive joy

When this family’s Christmas trip to Disneyland was called off, they decided to bring some sparkle and cheer to their own street.
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Now the display is drawing in the crowds as it helps raise funds to keep families fed this festive time through donations for Hebburn Helps.

Film script supervisor Carley Solomon, 30, and husband Nathan, 28, an electrician who runs Solo Property Maintenance, were helped by her son Alfie, 11, and his daughter Gabriella, six, as they put up more than 40 decorations outside their home in The Maples in Hebburn.

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Alfie Solomon, 11 and Gabriella Solomon, six, with the shivering snowman and penguin inflatables.Alfie Solomon, 11 and Gabriella Solomon, six, with the shivering snowman and penguin inflatables.
Alfie Solomon, 11 and Gabriella Solomon, six, with the shivering snowman and penguin inflatables.
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Joined by a snow machine, with a further five Christmas trees inside, the spectacular has wowed visitors and won the support of the close-knit estate, with £400-plus already collected for the food bank charity.

The display features a shivering penguin and snowman, a 25ft inflatable Santa and a projector alongside shapes including a train and unicorn, with sanitised bags of sweets left out for youngsters to enjoy following their visit.

Carley, who is originally from Hendon in Sunderland, said: "We were due to go to Disneyland, and when we couldn’t go, we thought we’ll bring Disneyland to us.

“It took two weekends to do, because we’ve been working during the week, and then we have five Christmas trees – we are massive Christmas fans.

The house has been filled with light displays for the festive period.The house has been filled with light displays for the festive period.
The house has been filled with light displays for the festive period.
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"We’ve been collecting them for a bit, but a man in South Shields wasn’t using them, so we bought some from him, and he’s brought his grandkid round to ours to see them.

"It makes you feel really good and it’s giving something back and it’s great for the kids, and we wanted to raise some money for a good cause, one which people really value.

"A lot of children make a wish at the Christmas lights switch on and they couldn't this year, so they’ve done it here.”

The Christmas display at The Maples has pulled in the crowds.The Christmas display at The Maples has pulled in the crowds.
The Christmas display at The Maples has pulled in the crowds.

The money raised through the display will be pledged towards buying food, essentials, nappies, sanitary products and baby milk for Hebburn Helps to pass on to families in need.

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Anyone who would like to donate to Carley’s campaign can send on funds via https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/christmas-foodbank.

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