A FAMILY from Prestonpans have switched on their famous Christmas lights display on their home on Longdykes Road.

The Woods family open their very own Santa’s grotto and decorate their home each year to raise money for Mission Christmas and Cash for Kids.

This year, there are more than 10,000 lights at their family home and in their garden.

Dad Stevie Woods said the family “just love Christmas” and hope the stream of visitors they’re expecting will leave donations for charity, either cash or a toy.

They raised £172 on their opening night.

The lights were switched on for visitors on Sunday at 5pm and will be on from 4.30pm to 10pm daily until Christmas.

The grotto is open for visitors, who can enjoy the Disney characters painted on the inside and the Christmas films playing.

There is also a Santa Sleigh where children can get their photograph taken, and this year there will be the addition of a Santa train, which Stevie made himself out of whisky barrels.

He said: “Last year we raised about £500 so we’re hoping to beat that. There are more lights up and we’re running a raffle competition.

“It makes it worthwhile to beat the total every year.

“We have been handed in toys and prizes already.

“People are able to make donations and leave gifts which will be sent away to charity. We do this because we just love Christmas – we have our tree up already.

“We have a nine-year-old daughter, Ellie, and we started this with her and it has just got bigger and bigger every year.

“My wife Sheena designs the grotto and I do the lights and the garden.”