AN annual colourful Christmas display raised more than £1,500 for charity.

Paul Baines has been illuminating his street on Merlin Drive in Dalton since the 90s with his Christmas lights display.

Apart from the spectacle of lights, the 53-year-old uses the occasion to raise funds for St Mary's Hospice. This year he collected £1,567 for the charity.

"It is fantastic because last year we just raised around £1,400 so to have an increase from last year is incredible for St Mary's Hospice," said Mr Baines.

"We tend to get a lot of people up consistently each year, and it is fantastic. There are so many children and families who come out to look at it - we appreciate them for doing that."

On Thursday, January 4, St Mary's Hospice collected the donations.

"They were so excited for the money that we raised for St Mary's Hospice and they couldn't believe how much money we raised again for them," said Mr Baines.

"We are hoping to raise funds for them again this year."

Mr Baines said raising funds gives him the motivation to put up the display and he is already looking forward to illuminating his house again next Christmas.

"I look forward to starting in October, and then it should be finished in late November or early December," he said.

Mr Baines explained that this year he switched on the light display a few days later than usual due to the snowy conditions. The tradition is to switch the display on the same day as Dalton's Christmas Lights Switch On but due to the cancellation of the event and the weather disruptions, they were only turned on on December 7.

Helen Carlson, head of fundraising at St Mary's Hospice, said: "Paul's display was fantastic - it will have brought festive joy to anyone who was lucky enough to go and see it. It was also a great way to raise money for us. 

"We only get around a fifth of the funding we need from the government, which means eight out of every 10 patients we care for have their care funding by our community and amazing people like Paul. Huge thanks to him from all of us at St Mary's."