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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Elliot Hawkins

Dad's Christmas lights display attracted so many people a road had to be closed

A dad's Christmas lights display outside his home attracted so many neighbours that a road had to be closed.

Around 300 people flocked to the street in Grays, Essex to see a 35-minute festive projection on the front of Jamie Bagge's house.

The opening show on Sunday, December 1 meant the avenue had to closed to accommodate the hundreds of guests.

His display uses Christmas videos, festive film montages including Disney film Frozen, and a variety of colourful lights and effects.  

Jamie, 35, who lives with his partner Jodie and three kids - Katie, Jack and Alfie - said it took around 20 hours to prepare the projection show.

Jamie (centre) was joined by Frozen's Olaf and Elf on the Shelf (Jamie Bagge/BPM Media)

He told Essex Live : "The house is usually covered in lights so this year we've done something totally different.

"The display lasts for 35 minutes and there were around 300 people at the switch-on last Sunday.

"The Essex Police Community Team came along and we had to close the road because of the number of people. I rang the the council to see if we could close the road and they did.

The projection display on the front of Jamie Bagge's house lasts for 35 minutes (Jamie Bagge/BPM Media)

"There was no official switch-on last year but there were around 100 people the year before that. It took four evenings to prepare the projector and the mapping this year, so around 20 hours. "

The switch-on event had mascots and even Santa made an appearance.

Jamie continued: "The High Voltage Performing Arts played carols, there was Olaf and a giant Elf on the Shelf, Santa in his grotto with his elves and there were snow blizzards."

The Essex Police Community Team came along (Jamie Bagge/BPM Media)
The road was completely closed for the opening show (Jamie Bagge/BPM Media)

The dad is also raising money for charity and says the displays will run every evening until at least Christmas Eve.

The show begins at 4.30pm everyday and runs until 9.30pm from Sunday to Thursday and until 10.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Jamie said: "There have been no complaints, the whole neighbourhood are happy with it," Jamie added.

"The start of the display tells you which radio station to tune into and you can listen to the music from your car while you watch the display.

"It's guaranteed to run until Christmas Eve, but depending on how popular it is it could run until January 1. We needed to change it up this year otherwise it becomes a bit samey.

"It mesmerises everyone."

This year, Jamie is raising money for ReEngage, a charity helping to combat loneliness and isolation with the elderly.

To support Jamie's fundraising efforts, visit his JustGiving page here .

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