An OAP who ‘loves Christmas’ enjoyed decorating his Bristol home so much he did next door too.
John Miller, 70, has an estimated 25,000 lights festooning his two properties at Kings Hill Road in Knowle Park.
John, a retired ice cream seller, used to live in the main four bedroom house but built a bungalow in the back garden seven years ago.
He moved into the bungalow with his wife Marilyn and started to decorate it for the festive season.
“I have always loved Christmas,” said John.
“So when we moved into the bungalow I thought I would put up some lights as it’s a lot easier when you are only on a ground floor level.”
Over the years John’s display has grown and this year he decided to expand the display to the main four bedroom house, which he still owns and now rents out.
As well as the 25,000 lights on the properties, lights also festoon the pillars around the house and even expand into the garden.
He has also designed his own fleet of illuminated, moving reindeer which go between each properties and are designed to look like they are in the air.
One of the main features of the display is the bottle tree at the main house.
John took his inspiration from the display at the Victoria Inn in Priddy and made the tree out of 480 cans, wine bottles, beer bottles and plastic bottles.
John officially turned on the lights at the end of November which was attended by 60 family and friends.
His wife made up selection boxes of treats which were handed out to young visitors.
The couple even have a snow machine, which they used to cover the display in a blanket of white.
John said: “This is the first time I have decorated the main house.
“I painted it this year and did the guttering and soffits which I finished at the end of October.
“But while I was doing that work I put in hooks and sockets and other infrastructure to allow me to expand the display.”
Grandfather-of-two John says the lights take weeks and weeks to put up but his hard work is worth it when he sees the faces of children who visit.
“It does cost me a fair bit of money and time” he said.
“But it is so worth it when I see the faces of the children that visit.
“That gives me the greatest pleasure."
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