Annual festive display lights up home for charity

The Hedges family home in Gillingham festooned with lights and Christmas decorations.
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The Hedges family home in Gillingham has become a festive tourist attraction

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A family in Kent have turned their house into a Christmas tourist attraction with thousands of lights and a Disney theme.

Lavinia Hedges said her family had been working their magic on their Gillingham home for the past four years.

"We are going for a classic Disney Christmas this year," she told the BBC.

The temporary attraction also raises money for local children's cancer charity, My Shining Star.

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The theme for 2024's decorations is Walt Disney characters

In the four years the Hedges family have been putting on their display, they have raised over £35,000 for the charity, Ms Hedges said.

"They are a local charity around the corner from us and they do fantastic work," she said.

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The Christmas display raises money for children's cancer charity, My Shining Star

Ms Hedges, who planned and organised the display, said the support from the community had been "amazing", with a local company having installed lights at the top of the property.

"People come from all over Kent to see it and to just keep getting those memories," she added.

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It takes a week to put up the 4,000 Christmas decorations

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Bambi is one of the featured Disney characters

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