Resident adds 'more madness' to Christmas display

Martyn Bosworth puts the lights outside his house in Muswell Road, Mackworth, for a good cause

A Derby man who extended his driveway says the move has meant he can add "more madness" to his annual Christmas lights display.

Since 2017, Martyn Bosworth, 62, and his wife, June, have been decorating their house in Muswell Road, Mackworth, with thousands of Christmas lights to raise money for the Macmillan Ward at Royal Derby Hospital.

Mr Bosworth purchased four metres of land from his next door neighbour a month ago and said the extra space has enabled him to put up more festive lights than in previous years.

In the place where his cars used to be parked, Mr Bosworth has placed light up presents, reindeer and a working tractor driven by an inflatable Santa Claus.

The driveway extension that has enabled Mr Bosworth to make more room for lights

Mr Bosworth said it takes a week to put up his display

Since losing his brother-in-law, Darren Wragg, to prostate cancer in 2017, Mr Bosworth said he wanted to grow his lights display "more and more" to raise money for the ward that treated him.

Mr Bosworth raised more than £11,000 for the Macmillan Ward last year and has so far raised £3,000 from this year's display.

"People love to come and see the lights and hopefully they will want to donate some cash after seeing why we are doing it," he said.

A working tractor being driven by an inflatable Santa is one of the new additions this year

Mr Bosworth, who owns a waste management business, said it took more than a week to put up the display, which includes a Santa's grotto, penguins, rainbows and a giant teddy bear.

He also added two floors of scaffolding to the right hand side of the house, which has a large Santa at the top,

On having more lights than last year, Mr Bosworth said: "It's just more madness, eventually it will get to the point where enough is enough."

"This year I felt like we have really smashed it," he added.

Jen Bonshor, who lives next door to the display, said Mr Bosworth's efforts are getting "better and better every year".

"The money they raise is amazing", said Mrs Bonshor.

"It's a bit chaotic but it's for a good cause and it's only once a year."

Reindeer, snowmen and Christmas presents are on show at the display