A Southampton man has brought back his Christmas light display despite rising electric costs.

Lee Jenkins, 28, from Millbrook has helped decorate his family’s house on King George’s Avenue every year since 2000.

What initially started as a small light display has grown into snow machines, inflatables, and even a post box where children can send letters to Father Christmas before the big day.

Last year due to the cost-of-living crisis, Lee set up a fundraiser where residents could donate money to keep the light display on throughout December, as his electricity bill soared to £1.50 an hour.

This year, costs to keep the light display on have increased further – costing Lee £15 for eight hours of use – working out at approximately £1.90 an hour.

For the second year running, the Christmas fanatic has set up a fundraiser asking people to contribute towards the cost of running the display – with the GoFundMe page already raising £115.

Lee told the Echo: “We’ve probably found it harder this year as costs have increased.

“Rather than having the lights on throughout the night now we turn them off at 1am, whereas it used to be 4am.

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Daily Echo:

“You don’t like to ask people to contribute towards the payment of the lights but it’s only there for those who want to – nobody has to – and we’ve got some positive feedback.”

He added: “It’s the community’s lights really because we wouldn’t do it without them.”

The light display in Millbrook has grown gradually each year, with both a reindeer and tree light added to this year’s colourful collection.

For years families have stopped to take pictures of the display, with a special few being allowed to step into Lee’s garden to get closer to the inflatables at the front of the property.

Lee said: “We’ve decorated all around the house so there’s something for everyone.

“The lights have been up since the end of November, and we’ll take them down on January 1.

“You don’t know what people are going through and if someone’s walking by and we can put a smile on their face then it makes all the work worthwhile.”