The nostalgic display using retro Christmas lights

Jonny smiles with a christmas tree lit up behind, he's holding a retro plastic blow mold figure of a teddy bear dressed as a soldier
Image caption,

Jonny Doda has been collecting Christmas decorations since he was five years old

  • Published

A Christmas light display featuring retro decorations dating back to the 1980s is taking visitors for a trip down memory lane.

Jonny Doda's collection started when he was five years old and was given his first set of Christmas lights.

Now 35, he has put up his display in Whitwick, Leicestershire, for the eighth year in a row and is raising money for the charity Wishes 4 Kids.

"It's something a bit different," he says. "People get a bit more excited, it warms their heart and it's bringing them back to their childhood, which is always nice at Christmas."

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The display in Whitwick spreads across Mr Doda's neighbours houses too

"Modern decorations have lost the look and feel of Christmas."

Mr Doda has collected more than 70 vintage blow mold figures and more than 100 sets of incandescent lights over the years.

His favourite pieces include a teddy bear soldier and a Santa's sleigh decoration which is suspended on wires over his house.

The display in Hermitage Road attracts a number of visitors, including Chris and Christine Morley, from Whitwick.

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Chris and Christine Morley enjoy seeing the retro decorations

Mr Morley, 71, said: "It's the lights we had a long time ago, only we didn't have a posh tree like this, we had a small plastic one."

"I think they are more gentle, restful and more Christmassy."

Mrs Morley, 68, added: "They remind me of my childhood, and every year it [the display] gets bigger and bigger."

Image caption,

The collections includes blow mold figures from the 1980s and 1990s

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