By Isle of Wight Observer
A spectacular Christmas lights display lit up the sky near Newport on Sunday.
Thousands of lights are used in the charity display put on by Matt Whitham for the past 12 years.
Matt explained: “I can’t say for definite how many lights are in the display but there are around 12,000 on the palm tree alone, so I’d estimate there are around 50,000-plus.
“The secret is to pack them away carefully each year and I then check them over as I start putting them up and I can refresh them if they are faulty.
“I don’t really set a budget on how many I use because, if I’m doing a specific charity, then I include a special display. This year any money raised will be donated to the Newport and Carisbrooke branch of the Royal British Legion to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
“The display will be switched on each day between 4.30pm-8.30pm until the end of the year with the exception of December 8/9 and 15/16 to give me a break.
“I normally raise between £2,000-£2,500, so I’m hoping for another good year with this latest display.”
