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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Sean McPolin

Christmas-mad dad covers home with 30,000 lights - with an eye-watering electricity bill

A Christmas -obsessed dad has covered every inch of his house in lights - giving him an eye-watering electricity bill.

Festive Paul Bibby has lit up his street in Chelmsford, Essex, similar to Danny DeVito's Deck The Halls classic.

The 57-year-old puts on the display every year, but this time around he'll be paying 25 per cent more than usual because of increasing energy prices.

Over the past 17 years, Paul has become a local legend over the amazing lights display, each year getting bigger and better.

This year he's somehow managed to squeeze 30,000 lights, giant inflatable decorations, and an eight-foot-tall Santa, penguin, and nutcracker.

But energy price hikes mean he will now be forking out £8 a day to run the festive display - £2 more than last year.

Paul, who lives with partner Linda Cummings, 59, and son Aaron Bibby, 35, said: "It's a lot of work putting them up and taking them down, but I love doing them.

"People walk past and tell me they have never seen anything like it.

Paul Bibby, who lives with his wife and son, pictured, has been decorating his house for 17 years (SWNS)

"It's always worth doing because I ask for donations for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, and because they make people so happy.

"I knew it would be more expensive this year, but I don't care about the cost.

"Nothing would have stopped me doing my lights."

Paul started his tradition 17 Christmases ago with a single string of Christmas lights on his home - and he got the bug.

Essex dad Paul Bibby spends £8 a day on his festive display (SWNS)

Each year he aimed to make his display bigger than the last - and it now draws spectators from up to 20 miles away.

The house is totally free to visit, but he asks people to consider donating to his local ambulance service - which he raised £850 for last year.

He said: "I know everything has gone up in price - I never saw myself paying £4.50 for a pack of butter.

"But I'll do my lights every year and I don't even care about the cost because people love it and it's a good cause.

People have travelled from 20 miles away to see the festive display (SWNS)
An eight-foot Santa is one of the many decorations on display at the Chelmsford home (SWNS)

"People around here probably think I'm crazy - but I love doing it because just want to make people happy.

"I'll carry on until I'm too old to get up the ladder."

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