TO say the Barnes family go crackers at Christmas is putting it lightly.

This year their home in Wheatley Lane Road, Fence, is covered by 10,000 light bulbs which will shine brightly throughout the festive season.

More than 5,000 people attended the display last year and more are expected to visit their home this time hopefully raising thousands of pounds for the NSPCC.

A crowd of about 200 gathered when television actor John McArdle, star of cop drama Mersey Beat, who lives in the Ribble Valley, flicked the switch to turn on the lights.

David and April Barnes began decorating their home with a multitude of lights about ten years ago but in the last five years it has got bigger and brighter each year with thousands of pounds being collected for charity especially Derian House children's hospice.

David began planning this year's Christmas lighting up time back in January.

Four years ago there were 3,000 lights. That has increased each year until there are now a near capacity 10,000.

The number of visitors has mushroomed each year from hundreds to thousands. In the last five years the amount collected for charity has also gone up in a similar ratio.

The roof decorations began to go up in September and his wife, April, began working on the inside of the house in October. "I was still at it half an hour before the switch on, it was very close this year," she said.

They are helped by their nine-year-old son, Mark, Santa's elf helper who urged the crowd to "Shout for Santa".

New attractions this year are Santa's garden and Santa's model workshop. Children can also visit Santa's study upstairs in the house.

April said: "They all come through the house and then out into the garden. Last year we had people who were spending Christmas in the area from new York, Japan and China."

David is a driver with Burnley and Pendle buses. April works as a teaching assistant at Wheatley Lane Methodist School and attends Nelson and Colne College for a course on child and health care.

She also runs a group for 7-13 year-olds at the Wheatley Lane Methodist Church on Friday evenings and is a Sunday School teacher.

She said: "I sometimes wonder myself how we find time for everything."

The light display will continue every night from 6-9pm up to and including Christmas Eve. There is no charge but donations for the NSPCC will be welcome. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Last year £3,030 was raised for Derian House, Chorley.