A Marlow Bottom family who have covered their home in 33,000 Christmas lights in aid of charity say they have received “incredible” support from those who come to marvel at the spectacular display.

The Shepherd family, whose home on Hill Farm Road dazzles every night throughout December, have been delighting families for more than 15 years with their epic Christmas lights collection – while raising thousands for good causes.  

Jancis and Tony Shepherd, along with their three daughters, spend months preparing for the annual tradition, which first started in 1999 as a “bit of fun” but then became more meaningful following a family tragedy.  

Mrs Shepherd said: “Tragically, I lost my dad just before Christmas and then my mum soon after. She loved Christmas lights and so we decided we would collect for charity.

“We try to pick a charity that is very small – we have collected for the Brainstrust because several people around Marlow Bottom have suffered with brain tumours, including some of our friends.”

Last year, the family a raised staggering £8,500 for Mummy’s Star – the only UK charity that supports women with cancer during pregnancy – and hope to beat their record again this year.

Mrs Shepherd, head of midwifery at University of West London, said they chose the charity for a mix of “professional and personal” reasons.

Despite raising thousands for charity, the project has become something of a hobby for Tony Shepherd.

Mrs Shepherd added: “My husband got interested and we started putting more and more lights up. The lights have just grown and grown and we have got about 33,000 lights now.

“One year we visited Fort Wilderness in Florida, where they hold competitions for the best Christmas lights. Then we found a company called Light-o-Rama and ever since then, Tony has been buying these controllers and lights and he has got about 15 controllers now, which can control multiple strings of lights.

“All the songs are timed with the lights, Tony has got a really good eye for it. He tries to include something different every year and tries to keep it fresh.

“Most of the lights are white, it’s very tasteful, but this year we have pink flood lights that light up the windows every so often.”

It took 82 hours to put the lights up and each song takes around 20 hours of programming.

Three new songs have been added this year, with ‘I Heard The Bells’ a particular favourite.

Since the lights were switched on on December 1 – which saw the family make mince pies and mulled wine for visitors – families have been turning up in their droves to marvel at the lights.

“It has been phenomenally busy. At 5pm people were there waiting patiently for the music to start. Saturday night was so busy, we popped out and when we came back, there were lots of cars in our road, including over our drive and people standing on our drive.

“We had to park down the road but we were going out again that night so we didn’t mind. We have had so much interest and people have been so incredibly supportive.

“It really does make the spirit of Christmas. We have families that come here again and again every year.

“It is absolutely the right thing to do. The money is coming in really fast, we have raised more than £4,800 already.”

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jancis-Shepherd4.