A Christmas-mad dad who has decorated every inch of his house with lights for 18 years says he'll never stop and the rising cost will never put him "off".<br /><br />Paul Bibby is a local legend in Chelmsford, Essex, having lavishly adorned his house with Christmas lights every year for the past 18 years.<br /><br />This year saw him string up over 30,000 lights with 70,000 bulbs as well as an eight foot gingerbread man, nutcracker and Christmas tree.<br /><br />He also covered the house in a blow up Santa, penguin, polar bear, and a six foot reindeer and dog.<br /><br />All the inflatable props take 45 minutes to be blown up every morning and deflated every night by Paul - with help from his son Aaron Bibby, 36.<br /><br />Despite the £300 December electricity bill, Paul doesn't plan to stop anytime soon.<br /><br />Paul, who is a full-time carer for son Aaron, and lives with him and partner Linda Cummings, 60, said: "Doing my house every year, it’s like a jigsaw puzzle.<br /><br />"It’s a lot of work for one person but I love doing it.<br /><br /> "Last year the cost was well over £300 in electric just for the lights, it might be even more this time but that would never put me off.<br /><br />"People will think that I'm crazy, but I do it for a good cause, one year I might need them."<br /><br />Paul began the tradition in December 2005 with a single string of lights and goes bigger and better every year.<br /><br />This year he has added four sets of new icicle lights and an 9-foot snowman.<br /><br />He said: "I tie them to my car with string, it’s alright if it’s not windy."<br /><br />For the fourth consecutive year, Paul is raising money for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, and is hoping to smash his previous fundraising record of £1,500 and has already raised £310.<br /><br />The light show requires 90 switches to turn on, which, coupled with blowing up each inflatable, can take the best part of 35 minutes each day.<br /><br />Paul's festive commitment has seen people come to visit his house from miles around. <br /><br />He said: "I get people come from Harlow to visit, they say it’s amazing and they've never seen anything like it.<br /><br />"I've even had people visiting the UK from South Africa come to see the lights!"<br /><br />"But I'll do my lights every year and I don't even care about the cost because people love it and it's a good cause.<br /><br />"People around here probably think I'm crazy - but I love doing it because just want to make people happy.<br /><br />"I'll carry on until I'm too old to get up the ladder!"<br /><br />Paul has also previously decorated his house with over a hundred union jacks to celebrate the King's coronation, and as a mark of respect for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
