Leaving the lights off this year would have been the sensible option.

But as you can see, Alex Goodhind refuses to let these dark times ruin the warm glow of Christmas.

So for the 14th year in a row, the 24-year-old IT firm manager has spent weeks turning his father's home in Melksham, Wiltshire, into an extraordinary light show.

Dazzling display: Alex Goodwind's lights in all their glory, all £30,000 worth of them

More than 115,000 bulbs are used in the £30,000 display which lights up Longford Road every evening until 10pm.

It uses so much electricity - £700 worth last Christmas - that Mr Goodhind has paid the power company to install an industrial sized cable outside the house to run it independently from the mains.

This means the family can at least boil a kettle without blowing a fuse.

Helping hands: Mr Goodwind flanked by friend Stewart Cantello, left, and neighbour Gwilyn Watson

On show: The electrical bill is estimated to be twice that what a family uses in a year

They are hoping visitors will donate money to a hospice charity.

Mr Goodhind said the tough economic climate made it even more important to switch on this year.

'It would have dampened the mood even more if the lights weren't there.'

Decorations in every shape and size cover the roof, garden and front of the house

By Daily Mail Reporter