THEY take three weeks to put up and cost £300 a year to maintain but a Swindon couple's Christmas lights always prove a popular attraction even if it is only mid-November.

Sandra and Vivian Wilks of Fuller Close, Cricklade, are now in their fourth year of fundraising for charity, using their garden and house Christmas lights to bring in the cash.

Donating the funds to the Prospect Hospice this year, Mrs Wilks said she liked to help out charity when she could.

"We raised money for the hospital last year but we wanted to support the hospice this time.

"We have lots of people coming to have a look but not many enough put their hands in their pocket.

"We turn them on about 7.30am for a couple of hours but have to turn them off as people have come and damaged them in the past.

"The children always stop off to have a look at them, especially on their way home from school."