WITH 6,000 bulbs adorning his home and garden this festive season, John Pearce has proved he is king of the Christmas lights in Okehampton.

Each Christmas John's bungalow in Northfield Road is an attraction for passers-by who stop to admire his 'work of art' — but this year he has excelled himself.

'I just keep adding more and more,' he said. 'I have always been a big fan of Christmas decorations but since we moved to Okehampton five years ago to retire my collection has got bigger.'

John's magical scene, with flashing lights at every turn — a mixture of white and coloured bulbs — is a big hit with children who often come in convoy to get a glimpse of the decorations. They could be mistaken for thinking they are stepping into Santa's Grotto.

John's wife, June, said: 'When I go shopping in the town I always get children coming up to me and asking if they can come and see the lights.

'People expect it of us now and the kids soon tell John if he is a bit late in putting them up.'

A week is spent checking all the bulbs then another week erecting the display — the Northfield Road resident spends about £200 a year on his lights and likes to pick up bargains in the sales after Christmas.

'I am always getting ideas from other people's displays and next year I would like to get a Father Christmas and put him halfway down the chimney,' said John. 'It's not about competing with anybody else, I do it because I get a big kick out of it.

'The people who see it get pleasure out of it as well. The other day three little girls came around carol singing and they loved it.'

The couple, who used to live in London, said in Devon people tended to respect your property more so they have been more inclined to put up a larger display.

The only problem is the weather: 'The lights do take a bit of a hammering from the wind and rain,' added John, whose light extravaganza costs him £3 a day.

With all the interest he is thinking of having a collection box next year and raising money for charity.