It's a Christmas wonderland at the Richards' house in Canberra. Source: Supplied
Just don't mention the electricity bill! Source: Supplied
AND you thought it was tough untangling and hanging up the lights for your living room Christmas tree!
A Canberra family has just reclaimed the Guinness world record for Christmas lights by switching on - wait for it - more than half a million of the little sparkly festive decorations around their home.
There’s more than 500,000 lights — trust us ... Source: Supplied
The Richards family, of the suburb of Forrest, first held the record in 2011 but their 331,038-bulb effort was eclipsed a year later when 346,283 lights were powered up at a home in the hamlet of LaGrangeville, New York.
For some families that may have signalled it was time to hang up their flashing Santa hats - but not David Richards, his wife Janean and their three kids.
They supercharged their Christmas spirit and took back the title in style, installing 502,165 multicoloured streamers, icicles, candy canes, reindeer and other candescent decorations - some more exotic, some less.
All the colours of the rainbow on display. Source: Supplied
It took a month to string up the 48km of wires but luckily Mr Richards had a lot of help from family and friends. He also didn't have to count all the lights himself, instead relying on delivery records and invoices to certify the total.
And when the power comes on and the tent-like streams of lights under a massive tree are revealed the view is simply spectacular - even if some of the neighbours aren't overly impressed.
The lights are attracting people from far and wide. Source: Supplied
Mr Richards says his six-year-old daughter Madelyn thinks everyone has a world record house with lights on it, and his other two kids, Caitlin, 10, and Aidan, 13, just enjoy it "a bit like me''.
"I have always loved Christmas. Having the Christmas lights with the community coming in and sharing it is a time when you get to know people you probably should know better, I guess.''
The lights don't just look good though - they also raise funds for SIDS & Kids ACT.
"The charity is very close to our heart. We lost a child and SIDS looked after us many years ago,'' Mr Richards said.
A Christmas welcome at the Richards’ house. Source: Supplied
"It was very important for us,'' he said. "Anyone who has been through that sort of loss will probably tell you the worst thing that can happen to you is losing a young child.''
People can visit the lights after dark from November 30 to December 26 at 3 Tennyson Crescent, Forrest. Entry is via a gold coin donation.
The Richards' last effort raised $78,000 and helped pay for two part time counsellors.
This time, though, they hope to break $100,000.
While Mr Richards bought all the lights himself the additional cost to his electricity bill - an extra $2,500 a month - is thankfully being picked up by a green energy company.
The amazing light show is for a great cause. Source: Supplied
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